A quarantine was imposed in parts of southern Kyrgyzstan after nine people were hospitalised in the southern province of Jalal-Abad with suspected anthrax. "The situation is very serious and there are many more infected cases amongst both residents and cattle. We have screened around 130 people for anthrax so far,' said Abdykalyk Nazarov, head, provincial epidemiological unit. The infection has been detected in six villages with the infected belonging to the Bazar-Korgon district.

The quarantine imposed on the district bans the sale of cattle, milk and meat. Consumption of meat of animals infected with anthrax is believed to be the main source of the infection. Also unhealthy meat slaughtering, processing, storage and sale can cause it. Health officials asked authorities to increase security measures around places where cattle infected with anthrax were buried in the past.