Mass testing of livestock as anthrax outbreak confirmed in Bushenyi
The RDC added that the movement and slaughter of any dead animals in the district have been halted...
BUSHENYI, October 10, 2024 – An anthrax outbreak has been confirmed in Kitagata Parish, Kyeizooba Sub county, Bushenyi District, following positive test results from samples sent to the National Animal Diseases Diagnostics and Epidemiological Centre [NADDEC] in Entebbe. This was announced by Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Robert Atuhairwe during a district taskforce meeting held on Monday.
“The samples taken from five individuals who consumed meat from Kyeizooba have tested positive,” Atuhairwe stated.
To mitigate the spread of anthrax from livestock to humans, Atuhairwe explained that all animals in the district would be tested before being slaughtered, moved, or sold. “Following the positive tests, we have resolved that slaughtering must occur in designated areas, and all livestock will undergo mass testing. We will also implement mass vaccination, particularly in Kyeizooba Subcounty, where the outbreak originated,” he noted.
The RDC added that the movement and slaughter of any dead animals in the district have been halted as preliminary investigations indicate that the disease was transmitted by individuals who consumed contaminated carcasses. “It is unfortunate that one individual has died, while another is receiving treatment. We are still investigating the condition of others who shared the contaminated meat,” he said.
Atuhairwe emphasized that the outbreak is not widespread, advising against enforcing a quarantine but rather focusing on intensified surveillance in the affected sub-county. “We will not enforce quarantine as the outbreak remains limited; however, we will enhance monitoring and supervision in Kafunjo village, Kyeizooba Subcounty, to prevent further spread,” he stated.
Victor Taremwa Rwakikonde, LC III Chairperson of Kyeizooba Subcounty, confirmed reports of the disease in the villages of Kafunjo and Rwenyina. “The outbreak is believed to have been brought in by traders transporting meat from Rwamuganga in Sheema district, who slaughtered the animals in Kafunjo. We have recorded the death of one individual, Abel Kamugisha, and another, Apollo Mucunguzi, is still battling the infection,” Taremwa reported.
He urged the people of Kyeizooba to refrain from consuming meat from dead animals. “Let us properly bury all carcasses; purchasing meat cheaply from unauthorised butcheries puts individuals at a high risk of contracting anthrax,” Taremwa cautioned.
According to Dr. Roberts Natukunda, District Veterinary Officer for Bushenyi, anthrax is a rare but serious infection caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which is naturally found in soil worldwide. It primarily affects livestock and wild game but can easily be transmitted to humans through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
“Animals may not show signs of illness until it is too late, so it’s crucial to avoid exposure to carcasses,” Dr. Natukunda advised.
As of now, six individuals have been infected, and two have died. The first cases of anthrax were reported on September 9, 2024, at Mburameizi Barracks Health Centre III in Kanungu, where two men who had slaughtered and consumed meat from a cow died on September 1, 2024.
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