Anthrax outbreak in Mpika

Government has intensified measures to contain an anthrax outbreak in the Nabwalya area of Mpika District in Muchinga Province. This follows the confirmation of cases among both animals and humans. Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Tuesday Bwalya says the government has since…

Government has intensified measures to contain an anthrax outbreak in the Nabwalya area of Mpika District in Muchinga Province.

This follows the confirmation of cases among both animals and humans.

Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Tuesday Bwalya says the government has since heightened disease surveillance and community sensitisation in the affected area to prevent further transmission of anthrax.

Dr Bwalya said the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), is intensifying surveillance of infected animals to ensure that affected carcasses are safely disposed of.

Speaking to the media in Nabwalya, Dr Bwalya stated that the Ministry of Health has stepped up its efforts to supply medicines to surrounding health centres to treat people infected with the disease.

“We have also commenced community engagements with the local people here by sensitising them on the dangers of consuming meat which is infected,” he said.

Dr Bwalya further stressed that government will continue strengthening interventions aimed at containing the outbreak as well as preventing the disease from spreading to other communities.

And Muchinga Provincial Health Director David Silweya, confirmed that about 14 patients infected with anthrax are currently receiving treatment in various health facilities in the district.

Dr Silweya noted that the condition of the patients is stable, adding that the treatment being administered is proving to be effective.

He has since urged members of the public to avoid accessing or handling carcasses of animals suspected to have died from anthrax, saying this could increase the risk of further infections.

“As the Ministry of Health, we have also started providing Information, Education and Communication materials to the surrounding communities on anthrax,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Senior Warden Peter Sichivula, disclosed that more than 26 wild animals have so far died from anthrax in the affected area.

Mr Sichivula said the number of infected animals could increase as surveillance and monitoring activities continue.

He pointed out that the Department of National Parks and Wildlife working with other security wings, has also intensified measures to restrict the movement and consumption of wild meat in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis and mainly affects animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and some wild animals, but humans can also become infected.