Rangpur, Oct. 2 -- An anthrax outbreak that first appeared in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur has now spread to two more upazilas, with suspected cases reported in Mithapukur and Kaunia, raising alarm among locals.

Health officials said 13 people have so far been diagnosed with anthrax in Pirgachha, where two people died in July and September after developing symptoms of the disease.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) sent a special medical team to Pirgachha last month.

On September 13 and 14, they collected samples from 18 suspected patients in Pirgachha Sadar and Parul unions, of which 13 tested positive.

"Samples from frozen beef also tested positive for anthrax spores, while one patient was infected a...