The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has distributed 20 000 vaccines as part of concerted efforts to combat the spread of anthrax in Chipinge where incautious communal families are at risk of contracting the disease through consumption and use of products from infected animals.
The first anthrax case was reported in the first week of December 2023, following which the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has been intercepting and destroying cattle moving in and out of quarantined areas in the district.
Ironically, Chipinge is a vaccination zone for foot and mouth disease, known by the acronym FMD and currently under a quarantine.
FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral livestock disease that has a significant economic impact as it affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.
Manicaland Provincial Veterinary Officer (PVO), Dr Charles Guri said anthrax vaccination is currently underway in hotspots, with 8 099 cattle having been vaccinated against a census of 10 336 at risk so far.
“The targeted vaccine coverage is 80 percent. Vaccinations are still ongoing, and farmers are encouraged to avail their cattle for anthrax vaccinations because those that miss the vaccination end up being grouped as affected.
“The Nyamakamba, Tamburikai and Dakate dip tanks are yet to be vaccinated due to incessant rains which disturbed the exercise,” he said.
Dr Guri said anthrax is a notifiable disease which causes sudden deaths in animals and humans who consume infected meat.
He decried the fact that some people from Chipinge are consuming carcasses from anthrax cases, putting themselves at risk of developing the disease.
Anthrax is transmitted to humans through handling or eating meat from infected animal carcasses, hence Dr Guri’s clarion call for the public to avoid handling and consuming meat from animals that died suddenly, meat obtained via emergency slaughter or uncertain origin.
“People in Chipinge are consuming carcasses of animal dying of anthrax, putting themselves at risk of developing anthrax. Farmers are advised not to consume any meat from sick animals or animals that died on their own.
They should report any sickness or death to veterinary officers so that investigations can be carried with the aim of controlling the disease, prevent future occurrence and also take any measures of necessary to safeguard public health.
“Anthrax is a zoonotic disease which affects both animals and people, hence the role of veterinary services in safeguarding public health through prevention and control of the spread of anthrax in animals,” he said.
Dr Guri said if an animal dies of suspected anthrax, its carcass should not be opened because exposure of the vegetative anthrax bacteria to air induces spore formation, contaminating the environment and presenting a health risk to people and nearby animals.
The disease is caused by a bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis, which forms spores that survive harsh environmental conditions with Chipinge being a persistent hotspot in Manicaland.
He said it is critical for farmers to report cases of anthrax and people should avoid consuming infected meat.
Acting Chipinge District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Ozmore Matekenya said they are carrying out awareness campaigns with the DVS to ensure that people are well protected from the disease.
He also warned the public against eating meat from animals that die from suspected cases, adding that animals that die of anthrax should be excluded from the food chain, and should be disposed safely by members of the veterinary services.
“We are aware of the problem, at the moment we have not recorded any reported human anthrax cases.
“Our key message to the public is to avoid consuming or handling products from infected animals as it put them at risk of contracting the disease. The public is warned against eating meat from animals that die on their own,” he said.
Signs of anthrax include sudden death of livestock, rapid decomposition of the bloated carcasses and tarry blood coming out of all natural openings.
Blood from a contaminated carcass is brownish and does not clot.
Recently, the DVS started vaccinating cattle in Binga along the Zambia border as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the disease into the country.
This follows reports from World Health Organisation (WHO) that five countries in East and southern Africa including Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are experiencing anthrax outbreaks, with more than 1100 suspected cases and 20 related deaths reported since the start of the year.
Department of Veterinary Field Services director, Dr Jairus Machakwa, recently mentioned that they are also conducting cross-border meetings with neighbouring countries for coordinated disease control efforts.
Anthrax is a soil-borne disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracic.
Anthrax is most common in wild and domestic herbivores for example cattle, sheep, goats, camels, hippos and antelopes which pick up the bacterial spores from the ground while grazing.
The disease is common when grazing is scarce, and animals graze too close to ground, especially after the first rains and grass is starting to sprout and when soil is disturbed during land preparation for farming, exposing the spores in the soil (most common during this period October to December).
Anthrax can also be transmitted to humans exposed to infected animals or contaminated animal products through handling (most common), ingestion and inhalation during preparation of meat especially in closed environment.
The country requires at least 1, 2 million vaccines annually to curb the disease, and the 20000 vaccines allocated to Manicaland was part of the 426 000 doses imported by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) from Botswana.
