Chama District records 120 anthrax cases

CHAMA District in Eastern Province has recorded cases of suspected anthrax in more that 120 people.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe said in a statement yesterday that the outbreak was suspected to have been caused by an infected hippo in Luangwa River.

Dr Mbewe said all the patients recorded since Friday last week, had a history of having consumed or touched hippo meat.

He said the hippo was said to have died of anthrax around the upstream of the Luangwa River, where 62 hippos had so far died after showing signs of infection.

“Areas bordering Chama or anyone who has consumed hippo meat in the recent past may be affected,” he said.

Dr Mbewe said however that the public should not panic because the disease was treatable and that the Ministry had sufficient stocks of drugs.

He said samples had been sent to a laboratory in Lundazi and that a rapid response from the provincial office was already in Chama.

“A stakeholders meeting involving the Ministry of health, Ministry of Live stock and fisheries, a veterinary team from the University of Zambia and University Teaching Hospital laboratory team was held today,” he said.

He said an expert team had been constituted and dispatched to support the province and the affected districts.

Dr Mbewe said people who had come in contact or had eaten hippo meat in recent weeks and developed skin swellings like insect bites which later become blister or which eventually ulcerated, should quickly seek medical attention.

He said the affected areas had been cordoned off and sensitisation provided to people against eating game meat, while surveillance had been enhanced.

[Times of Zambia]