EIGHTY-SEVEN people have been hospitalised after eating
meat from cattle affected by anthrax. The disease has so far claimed about 177 beasts.
Anthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by
bacteria that normally affects animals, especially ruminants such as cattle,
but being a bacteria, it is easily treatable with antibiotics if detected in
time.
Zimbabwe usually experiences anthrax outbreaks during the
rainfall season because rains wash away the top soil and expose spores that can
remain dormant in the soil for over 40 years.
Livestock, particularly cattle, take up anthrax bacteria
while grazing on contaminated land. People get infected when they handle or eat
anthrax-infected meat.
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.
During this season, anthrax outbreaks have been recorded in
Gokwe, Nkayi, Gutu, Bikita, Marondera, Mazowe, Chegutu, Makonde and Sanyati.
In Makonde, there was an unconfirmed report of one person
dying, while 64 were hospitalised, while in Masvingo Province’s Bikita
District, 28 people were reportedly diagnosed with the disease at different
clinics.
Acting director for the Division of Veterinary Field
Services Dr Wilmot Chikurunhe said anthrax was being detected in traditional
outbreak areas and not affecting the whole districts.
Traditional anthrax areas tend to see outbreaks quite often
because of the long life of the spores, but unless infected cattle are moved
and die elsewhere, contaminating more soil, the disease does not spread.
Dr Chikurunhe said the disease was restricted to certain
areas, although the vaccination coverage was extended to a wider area to
contain the outbreak.
“Cattle owners in anthrax areas should ensure their cattle
are vaccinated against the disease once a year before the rainy season,” he
said. “The department comes in to prevent massive outbreaks, but the primary
responsibility for disease prevention lies with the owner.”
Dr Chikurunhe said anthrax carcasses should be disposed of
in a manner that did not leave the bacteria exposed to air.
The best method is to burn the carcasses in a pit, then
bury the ashes.
But some parts of the country have firewood problems and in
such areas, it is recommended to dig a six feet deep pit, cover the carcass
completely with soil, apply a layer of agricultural lime (it excludes oxygen)
before filling the rest of the pit with soil.
Dr Chikurunhe said this was best done under the supervision
of veterinary personnel.
Anthrax bacteria stays in the soil for many years in a
dormant form and once it is exposed to oxygen, it changes to a form that
infects animals and humans.
“For this reason, safe disposal of anthrax carcasses is
important and anthrax graves must be marked to prevent accidental excavation in
future,” said Dr Chikurunhe.
He said so far, no human cases of the disease had been
traced to consumption of meat from a registered butchery or supermarket.
All cases are related to meat obtained from informal
village sales.
“The sale of meat in butcheries and supermarkets is
regulated under the Public Health Act, which is administered by the Ministry of
Health and Child Care,” said Dr Chikurunhe.
“Inspection of butcheries for compliance is carried out by
public health officers from the same ministry.
“Once an outbreak is confirmed, the area is placed under
movement quarantine and no permits are issued to move animals out of the area
or to slaughter facilities.”
During an outbreak, officials from both the Ministry of
Health and Child Care and the Department of Veterinary Services jointly monitor
that meat being sold in butcheries is coming from a registered facility and is
fit for human consumption.
“The sale of meat outside a registered butchery is an
offence under the same Act,” said Dr Chikurunhe. “The public is discouraged
from buying meat at informal markets as they risk contracting anthrax and other
diseases.”
Dr Chikurunhe said his department had enough vaccines to
respond to outbreaks.
Already, vaccines have been dispatched to all provinces
affected and vaccination has either been completed or is ongoing in such areas,
and those at risk of contracting the disease.
“Treasury is facilitating payment for additional vaccines
to cover areas that are considered traditional anthrax areas, but have not
reported outbreaks,” he said.
The vaccination campaign is combined with awareness
campaigns jointly organised with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
In outbreak areas, some farmers fail to come to terms with
the loss of cattle and try to salvage value from the carcasses, in the process,
failing to report cattle deaths to veterinary authorities.
Farmers are advised to report sick animals and animal
deaths to the nearest veterinary offices, not to open animals that die on their
own or of disease, and not to eat meat from such animals.
Dr Chikurunhe said the public should not move animals or
meat illegally from infected areas.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) executive director Mr Paul
Zakariya said they had received reports of anthrax outbreaks and urged farmers
to vaccinate their livestock.
“We discourage farmers from consuming meat from animals
that would have died from unknown causes,” he said. “Farmers should vaccinate
their livestock and work closely with veterinary officers to curb the spread of
the disease.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Mr
Wonder Chabikwa said: “Some farmers are not aware of the difference between
tick-borne diseases and anthrax and this causes challenges.
“Farmers should seek assistance from local veterinary
officers. Selling the cattle to unsuspecting people causes a health hazard.
There is need for a lot of interaction between farmers and veterinary
officers.”
Livestock expert and farmer, Mr Solomon Zawe said farmers
should dip, dose and vaccinate their livestock even when there was no disease
outbreak.
“Farmers should follow the vaccination calendar,” he said.
“Another challenge is that we are attached to our livestock and we do not want
to sell. Instead of selling part of the herd to get money to buy feeds and
vaccines, we maintain the large herd which may later be affected by diseases.”
Mr Zawe said the veterinary department should be
capacitated to deal with disease outbreaks. Herald
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