The World Health Organization says five countries in eastern and southern Africa are in the midst of an anthrax outbreak with more than 1,100 suspected cases and 20 deaths this year.
Cape Town, South Africa — Five countries in eastern and southern Africa are in the midst of anthrax outbreaks, with more than 1,100 suspected cases and 20 deaths this year, the World Health Organization said Monday.
A total of 1,166 suspected cases had been reported in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Thirty-seven cases had been confirmed by laboratory tests, the WHO said. It said the five countries have seasonal cases every year, but Zambia is experiencing its worst since 2011 and Malawi reported its first human case this year. Uganda had reported 13 deaths.
Anthrax commonly affects animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, as well as wild herbivores. Humans can become infected if they are exposed to animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax is not generally thought to be contagious between people, although there have been rare cases of person-to-person transmission, the WHO says.
Anthrax is caused by spore-forming bacteria and is sometimes associated with the weaponized version used in the 2001 attacks in the United States, when five people died and 17 others became ill after being exposed to anthrax spores in letters sent through the mail.
Anthrax bacteria also occur naturally in soil.
In a separate assessment of the outbreak in Zambia, which was the most alarming, the WHO said 684 suspected cases had been reported in the southern African nation as of November 20, with four deaths. Human cases of anthrax have been reported in nine of Zambia’s 10 provinces. In one case, 26 people were suspected of contracting the disease from eating contaminated hippo meat.
The WHO said there was a high risk that the outbreak in Zambia could spread to neighboring countries.
The outbreaks in all five countries “are likely due to multiple factors, including climate shocks, food insecurity, low risk perception and exposure to the disease through handling the meat of infected animals,” the WHO said.
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