Various countries in Africa have recently experienced outbreaks of anthrax in cattle and beef.
According to the International Society for Infectious Disease’s ProMED news list, at least four villages in Kenya and one province of Zimbabwe have seen people infected with anthrax with contamination blamed on infected cattle and/or contaminated beef.
Chemhere Nyamangara, senior veterinary animal health inspector for the Zvimba district of Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province, blamed the spread of the infection from cattle—there are ongoing known outbreaks in both countries’ herds—to people is that people will consume the meat of animals that have died for unknown reasons.
“It is worrying that despite efforts to educate people on the dangers of eating meat of an animal that has fallen ill or died due to unknown reasons, people still eat it, exposing themselves to danger.
People should immediately notify the Department of Veterinary Services whenever they suspect anthrax symptoms both in human beings and in livestock.
We are hearing that some people died in Chirau and that cows are being affected by anthrax in Kasanze village. We encourage people to avoid opening carcasses of cattle that die of natural causes to reduce contamination of pastures by anthrax.”
