Zambia Records 400 cases of Anthrax, mainly in Southern Zambia

By Kalata News,

 

Lusaka – Zambia is currently experience an outbreak of anthrax. According to the Sylvia Masebo, Minister of Health close to 400 cases with 4 deaths have been reported in several provinces of Zambia.

Of the 400 cases reported, over 300 cases were reported mainly from the Southern part of Zambia.

Other provinces affected include Western province with 19 cases, Eastern Province with 30 cases and Muchinga and NorthWestern Zambia. Lusaka has 13 cases recorded from Matero, Kanyama, Chilenje and Chelstone.

“Anthrax is a health security threat to Zambia currently. Zambians would do well to avoid eating meat at the moment until the spread of anthrax is halted,” advised the Health Minister.

“People can get anthrax as they come into contact with an infected animal or consume anthrax contaminated meat products.” Says Health Minister Sylvia Masebo.

The Health Minister said “Without treatment, 20 percent of the patients infected with skin anthrax die. However with treatment almost all patients survive. The deadly one is the one affecting the lungs. This one without treatment all patients die.”

According to CDC – Centre for Disease Control – Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.

Anthrax is not contagious, which means you can’t catch it from another person like the cold or flu.

How people get infected with anthrax

People get infected with anthrax when spores get into the body. When anthrax spores get inside the body, they can be “activated.” The bacteria can then multiply, spread out in the body, produce toxins, and cause severe illness.

This can happen when people breathe in spores, eat food or drink water contaminated with spores, or get spores in a cut or scrape in the skin. It is very uncommon for people in the United States to get infected with anthrax.

Certain activities can also increase a person’s chances of getting infected.

How animals get infected with anthrax?

Domestic and wild animals can become infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. These animals can include cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and deer. In areas where domestic animals have had anthrax in the past, routine vaccination can help prevent outbreaks.

Where anthrax is found?

Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions of

• Central and South America,
• sub-Saharan Africa,
• central and southwestern Asia,
• southern and eastern Europe, and
• the Caribbean.