Five people have been hospitalized after consuming beef of a dead cow suspected to have been infected with anthrax in Ibanda district western Uganda.
Vincent Mugisha, the District Surveillance Officer on November 7, 2023 confirmed that the five hail from Rugaaga cell Keihangara sub county Ibanda South, and were referred to Ibanda hospital for medical attention.
Veterinary officials together with health experts in the district have now declared an anthrax outbreak in the area warning the public from consuming unapproved meat and that from dead animals, and they are working jointly with authorities from neighboring districts like Kitagwenda, Kamwenge, Mbarara, Kazo, Kiruhura to arrest the situation.
Godard Serushuba, the chairperson LC1 Rugaaga cell said that the victims have been eating meat that was sold at a big discount compared to fresh meat in the past days. The situation went out of hand when the victims started to develop skin sores, vomiting and other symptoms of anthrax.
WHAT IS ANTHRAX? 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 is caused by a spore-forming bacterium. It mainly affects animals. Humans can become infected through contact with an infected animal or by inhaling spores.
Symptoms depend on the route of infection. They can range from a skin ulcer with a dark scab to difficulty breathing.
Antibiotic treatment cures most infections. Inhaled anthrax is harder to treat and can be fatal.
ALSO READ: In the face of a changing climate,Ugandan smallholder farmers are the most affected, with their return on investment in coffee steadily declining in areas of Sheema,Mbarara,Ntungamo,Kiruhura,Ibanda,Isingiro,and other coffee-producing areas.
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