Cutaneous infection caused by Bacillus anthracis in Larissa, Thessaly, Central Greece, July 2012

Abstract

In July 2012, a confirmed case of cutaneous anthrax infection in a stockbreeder in the prefecture of Larissa, Thessaly, Central Greece was reported. The investigation revealed five related deaths in animals (two dogs and three sheep). Control measures have been taken immediately in order to prevent further spread in humans and animals. On 7 July 2012, a stockbreeder in his early 60s was admitted to the Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Greece with high fever up to 39.5 degrees C accompanied by rigors, malaise and generalised weakness that had been present for the previous six hours. The patient reported the appearance of three pruritic papular lesions on the left forearm five days earlier. He further reported that he had slaughtered and flayed a sheep six days before admission to hospital.