Chennai: Three spotted deers have died in the sprawling IIT-Madras campus due to suspected Anthrax. The samples of the animals were sent to Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) for testing.
Samples from one deer showed the presence of anthrax, while tests on samples from awaited.
Meanwhile, an official release from TANUVAS said information was received yesterday afternoon from the Wildlife Warden, Guindy National Park that three spotted deer had died in the IIT, Madras Campus and the in–house veterinarian suspected Anthrax.
The University immediately asked the veterenarians to collect samples (muzzle pieces from carcasses and blood soaked sand) and bring the same to Central University Laboratory of TANUVAS for confirmatory diagnosis.
The forest officials, as a precaution, were advised to dispose the carcasses according to codal procedures which included: Not to conduct necropsy on the animals, placing the carcass in a pit not less than 6-8 feet deep, spraying a thick layer of caustic lime over the carcasses, covering the carcasses with thorn before burying and completely filling the pit with mud to prevent digging by stray dogs, etc and spray 10% formalin on the soil wherever blood has spilled.
Tanuvas also denied veterinarians suspecting that anthrax might have spread from dogs.
“Regarding the role of dogs in the disease, it is also clarified that dogs are not known carriers of anthrax organisms and do not play any role in its transmission and there is no need to be concerned about the role of dogs in transmitting the disease to humans”, it said. Further steps will be taken after confirmatory tests on the samples, it said.Â
