EDITOR
Farmers and cattle traders in Ntungamo District are facing a new threat of an anthrax outbreak, just a month after cattle markets reopened following years of closure due to foot-and-mouth disease.
Anthrax, a disease that affects both humans and animals, has posed significant challenges in Kanungu and Rukungiri Districts, leading to the closure of livestock markets and restrictions on the consumption of animal products.
Dr. Yaake Basulira, the Ntungamo District Veterinary Officer, has reported suspected cases of anthrax in Nyabushenyi and Rugarama North Sub-counties. The district team is actively investigating to determine whether these cases may escalate into an outbreak of the highly infectious disease.
Dr. Yaake revealed that the district authorities were alerted after individuals exhumed and consumed meat from a buried dead cow. The individuals subsequently developed boils all over their bodies and are currently hospitalized. Samples have been collected and sent to government laboratories for confirmation, but Dr. Yaake indicated a high likelihood (over 90%) that the infection is anthrax.
In response, the district has raised awareness among farmers, butchers, traders, and the general public, convened meetings with local leaders, and strengthened measures to prevent further infections. Authorities are also working to trace the source of the infected cow. Should an outbreak be confirmed, it would necessitate a complete quarantine of animal markets.
Anthrax has a fatality rate exceeding 90% in animals and is particularly dangerous because it shows no symptoms in live animals, only becoming apparent after death. In humans, it manifests as boils and progresses rapidly, often with fatal outcomes. To prevent infection, people are advised to avoid contact with sick animals and refrain from consuming meat from animals that have died under suspicious circumstances.
