Zimbabwe and four other countries in southern and eastern Africa are experiencing an anthrax outbreak with the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling for action to end the spread of the disease.

A total of 1,166 suspected and 37 confirmed cases have been recorded in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said the continent needed to break the cycle of infection by preventing the disease in animals to end the outbreaks.

“We are supporting the ongoing national outbreak control efforts by providing expertise as well as reinforcing collaboration with partner agencies for a common approach to safeguard human and animal health,” she said.

Anthrax is a bacterial disease commonly affecting domestic and wild herbivores. Human beings acquire the disease through contact with infected animal carcasses or exposure to contaminated animal products.

Animal-to-animal and human-to-human transmission of anthrax does not typically occur, although rare records of person-to-person transmission have been reported with cutaneous anthrax.

In the WHO statement released this week, of the five nations, nine out of 10 provinces in Zambia are afflicted by the biggest outbreak to occur there since 2011. Zambia had recorded 684 suspected cases, 25 confirmed cases, and four deaths as of November 20 this year.

“The outbreaks are presenting varied patterns in the affected countries. In Kenya, three deaths have been reported this year compared with zero fatalities from over 200 suspected cases in 2022.

“While the disease is endemic in animals in Malawi, the country reported its first-ever human case this year.

In other news – 13-year-old boy shoots dead fellow teenager

A 13-year-old boy from Karoi has been arrested after he tragically shot dead a fellow 15-year-old teenager in the head.

The boy, who is in police custody and cannot be named for ethical reasons, is helping the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with investigations. The incident happened in Chiedza, Karoi, on Monday, 11 December, 2023. Read More