MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-The Veterinary Services Department has started vaccinating cattle against anthrax throughout the country, mostly targeting thirty one hotspots districts as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the deadly disease.
Anthrax is a soil-borne disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthraces, and is mostly common in wild and domestic herbivores that includes cattle, sheep, goats, hippos and antelopes.
The anthrax outbreak is usually witnessed during the rain season as the animals grazing close to the ground and ingest soil contaminated with anthrax spores in the process.
In the Midlands Province more than 57 000 cattle have already been vaccinated in Gokwe South, one of the hotspot districts.
Acting Chief Director in the department of Veterinary Service, Dr Pious Makaya confirmed to The Midweek Watch that 36 cattle died of anthrax in four hotspots districts.
While 518 human cases were recorded, but no death report was received.
He said vaccination of anthrax in hotspots areas will be done across the country as the department has acquired 426 000 doses from Botswana.
“Zimbabwe is currently faced with the problem of anthrax disease, a zoonotic disease which affects humans and animals. We have 31 anthrax districts hotspots countrywide and those are the districts we are targeting.
“We also have reports that 36 animals died from anthrax in Chipinge, Hurungwe, Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts,” said Dr Makaya.
He added that Zimbabwe needs more than 1.6million doses to effectively control the disease.
“To effectively control anthrax, Zimbabwe as a country needs about 1.6 to 2 million doses of anthrax and currently, we have 21 percent of the required doses. So there is an urgent need to increase the number of doses so that we cover thirty one hotspot districts,” added Dr Makaya.
He warned the public against eating meat from livestock that die from suspected cases, adding that such animals should be disposed of safely by the members of the veterinary services.
Zimbabwe has been on high alert to control the disease following the outbreak in Zambia and the down pours that was witnessed in the country recently.
According to the Animal Health Act, some rural districts have been designated as anthrax endemic areas, later called high-risk zones, based on history and incidence of past disease outbreaks.
Rapid decomposition of the bloated carcasses, sudden death of animals, tarry blood coming out of all natural openings and the brownish blood from a contaminated carcasses that does not clot are some of the common signs of anthrax.
