Zambians warned against eating dead wildlife after anthrax kills dozens of animals
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent Zambian authorities issued urgent warnings against consuming wildlife meat following a severe anthrax outbreak. The disease has killed dozens of wild animals across the Munyamadzi River area in Muchinga province. Officials confirmed that twelve individuals contracted the infection after eating contaminated carcasses. Public health teams…
Zambian officials have issued urgent warnings against consuming meat from wildlife, following a severe anthrax outbreak that has killed dozens of animals in the Munyamadzi River area of Muchinga province. The disaster management and mitigation unit confirmed that twelve people contracted the infection after eating contaminated carcasses, though no fatalities have been reported.
Surveillance teams are closely monitoring local populations as they work to determine the full extent of the outbreak, which has claimed the lives of forty-six hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes, and one crocodile since July. Wildlife experts emphasize the importance of tracking environmental vectors to prevent cross-species transmission.
Public health officials emphasized the risks of human infection through direct contact with contaminated animal tissues, and authorities advised citizens to avoid handling wild animals entirely. The unit's coordinator noted that the deaths of these animals, found in the region, were often consumed by local people who depend on them for food.
The government has called for a complete suspension of hunting activities in the affected zone until the full scope of the disease and its risks can be assessed. Anthrax is endemic to Zambia, but human deaths remain rare; past major outbreaks occurred in 2011 and 2023.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
