Evaluation of National Anthrax Strategy in Livestock in Iran

Anthrax is a widespread disease in Iran and its importance is not only restricted to the economic losses in livestock but also is significant in terms of public health.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anthrax combating program in livestock since 1989 to 2014.
In this study, national strategy of anthrax disease in livestock was evaluated from the beginning to 2014. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients.
Vaccination against anthrax began from 1929. From1989 to 2014, vaccination had been done for 78621001 cattle and 1357680466 small ruminants. In these years, there were 452 and 761 epidemics of disease in cattle and small ruminants respectively. In addition, 666 cattle and 5775 small ruminants were dead due to anthrax. There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of epidemics and vaccination, as well as between the rate of mortality and vaccination in livestock population.
Without planning based on epidemiological principles, vaccination alone will not actually be able to decrease the incidence of the disease, so vaccination should be targeted along with control and surveillance.