Worried over the repeated outbreak of anthrax in different parts of the state, particularly in the backward and tribal dominated districts, the Orissa government is now contemplating a new comprehensive policy to tackle the dreaded disease.

“The state government is planning to come out with a comprehensive policy to combat anthrax and apart from our own resources, the central government’s assistance would also be sought to implement the new policy”, a highly placed source in the state secretariat told Deccan Herald.

During the last two weeks, as many as 14 people died in two of the most backward districts of the state – Koraput and Kalahandi.

While the dreaded disease claimed eight people in Laxmipur and Similguda area of Koraput district located in the southern part of the state, six people have so far succumbed to the killer disease in Lanjigarh block of the western Kalahandi district.

A team from the central government has already visited Lanjigarh to take stock of the situation. Health and other teams from the state headquarters have also visited both the districts to assist the district administration in handling the situation.

“Two official teams which were dispatched to both the districts recently have been categorically asked to destroy the dried beef which the tribals usually store in their homes. They have been directed to seek the help of the local police if necessary”, an official in the health department said.

Infected cow meat has been a major reason behind the spread of the disease in the tribal areas.

If sources in the government are to be believed, 14 out of 30 revenue districts in the state has witnessed outbreaks of anthrax as many as 61 times during the last ten years. 750 people were affected by the dreaded disease during this period, of which 418 had died.