Three fresh anthrax cases were detected on Wednesday from Orissa's Sundargarh, barely a week after 12 people in the district tested positive for the disease, official sources said.

All the three -- Safia Kispatta (55) Prafulla Kispatta (30) and Graviel Ekka (50) -- hailed from Dhudinua village of the district, nearly 80 kms from Rourkela.

The patients were undergoing treatment at Balishankara primary health centre, the sources said, adding a medical team from the district headquarters has rushed to the village.

A similar report of anthrax outbreak was reported last week in Pindapathar village of the district, where 12 persons were found affected by the disease.

The tribals living in remote villages of the district, particularly in Subdega and Balishankara blocks, often consume meat of dead domestic animals, they said, adding an awareness campaign was launched among them.