Associated Environmental Factors and Past Practices Regarding to Anthrax Infection in Human in Salavan District, Salavan Province, Lao PDR: Case-Control Study

Abstract

Anthrax is an infectious-zoonotic disease which becomes a world concern as it found in all continents except Antarctica. Many countries in the world are endemic with relatively frequent outbreaks. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, sporadic cases of anthrax were reported periodically and the most affected province is Salavan province. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with human anthrax in villagers in Salavan district, Salavan province, Lao PDR.  The questionnaire used in this survey consisted of both closed and opened ended questions and the observation form of environmental setting was used for data collection. It was carried out in the months of February and March 2012. The 1:2 ratio unmatched case-control study design was used, 414 people were included in this study, 138 of them were reported cases from 2009 to 2011, the data was provided by the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) and 276 controls were selected randomly in all ages and sex in 17 affected villages of Salavan district, Salavan province. The results shown that six past practices namely butchering, cutting, digging hole and bury carcass, contacting and handling, and being the main cook of the family were positively associated with human anthrax. Leaving carcass where it dead was negatively associated and statistically significance with human anthrax infection.