THREE people have been confirmed to have anthrax, which has broken out in
Chama district of Muchinga Province
Chama District Commissioner Josphat Lombe said that this was from 53
people that were affected by the disease.
Mr Lombe said that according to the Ministry of Health in the
district, 235 people were believed to have eaten hippo meat.
He said that 18 hippos from Luangwa River were reported to have died
from anthrax which was eventually transmitted to humans after eating
its meat.
Mr Lombe said that a task force comprising of officers from Ministry
of Health, Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries has been formed to monitor the situation.
He noted that that it was unfortunate that some people have kept some
meat from the affected hippos and were reluctant to surrender it to
government so that it could be destroyed.
Mr Lombe further revealed that officers have been deployed along the
Luangwa River to stop people that were still trying to get their hands
on the dead hippos.
He has advised people in Lundazi and Chipata district not to buy bush
meat which does not have valid papers from the Department of National
Parks and Wildlife.
Hippo meat is very tasty but this should be a good reason to risk ones life. And those people holding on to the meat I am sure they will not eat the meat themselves but try and sell it in areas outside Chama
Effects of poverty, poaching just to earn a living.
Where is this meat coming from? How there is increase in hippoo meat.. You are letting Boer trophy hunting companies bring their clients to shoot our animals at a high cost and leaving dead hippos everywhere and not benefitting anything.