Anthrax outbreak kills hippos in DR Congo’s national park

A recent anthrax outbreak has caused the deaths of 28 hippos in Virunga National Park, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The epidemic has occurred over the past four weeks in and around Semuliki River, west of Africa's oldest national park. Virunga National Park officials confirmed the diagnosis following laboratory tests, stating that the bacterial infection Bacillus anthracis was the culprit.

Michael Kambale, a local resident in Vitshumbi enclave, expressed concern over the mass deaths, coinciding with the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The park's ecological and veterinary expert, Joel Mbusa Mapoli, emphasized the significance of the loss, given hippos' role as ecosystem engineers. These creatures shape nutrient flows and ecological conditions within their habitats.

Park officials are currently implementing a multi-faceted approach to address the outbreak. This includes surveillance for new cases, safe handling and disposal of carcasses, and public awareness campaigns. Local communities are advised not to touch, skin, or consume any dead animals and to report any suspicious carcasses or suspected cases to relevant authorities.