January 24, 2013

Following an anthrax outbreak, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has enforced a ban on importing live animals and meat to the Maldives from Tamil Nadu in India.

A statement from the HPA read that two towns in Tamil Nadu had reported an outbreak of anthrax, and as a precautionary measure the agency had banned live animal and meat imports from any state within Tamil Nadu. The HPA has urged against using live animals and meat produced after December 31, 2012 imported from India.

"Normally anthrax affects animals such as goats and cows. However, humans can get the disease from animals. Humans contract the disease by coming in contact with infected animals, airborne germs and consuming meat of infected animals," the HPA stated.

Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, according to the agency.