Anthrax: Occupational Health and Safety Management under the One Health Approach

แอนแทรกซ์: การจัดการอาชีวอนามัยและความปลอดภัยภายใต้แนวทางสุขภาพหนึ่งเดียว

Abstract

         Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that can persist in the environment and spread rapidly. The disease affects both animal and human health, as well as the economy particularly among agricultural workers, slaughterhouse employees, and those involved in animal product processing. This article focuses on analyzing anthrax from an occupational health and safety perspective under the “One Health” approach, aiming to propose systematic prevention, control and risk management strategies at the individual, organizational, and community levels.

         The review found that the occurrence of anthrax is associated with environmental factors, inadequate livestock vaccination systems, improper carcass disposal and risky behaviors among workers, such as handling infected carcasses or consuming uninspected meat. Effective disease control requires an integrated approach through collaboration between government and local agencies. Key measures include proactive surveillance, livestock immunization, biosafety education for workers, and improving workplace safety standards in compliance with relevant laws, such as the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558 (2015) and the Animal Slaughter Control Act B.E. 2559 (2016). The policy recommendations emphasize strengthening collaboration among public health, veterinary, and occupational health sectors within the One Health framework to develop sustainable surveillance and response systems for anthrax. Furthermore, enhancing knowledge and adopting digital tools for monitoring disease situations in high-risk areas can help reduce health impacts on workers and promote long-term biosecurity and occupational safety at the national level.