Anthrax ‘horror’ returns to haunt people, 3 dead in…,many admitted to hospital

At least three people have died and several others are hospitalised in an anthrax outbreak in Uganda’s north-eastern and western regions , the country’s health ministry said on Friday. The two deaths occurred in Buhweju district in western Uganda , the ministry noted in a report. One of the two cases was laboratory-confirmed and the other was a suspected patient. Eleven other people in the district are suspected to have the disease. Meanwhile, a 45-year-old woman, a suspected anthrax victim, died in Moroto district in the north-eastern part of the country.

The health authority said the cause of death was attributed to eating meat from a cow that died three days ago in Apetawoi village and was sold raw at the Chokolias community market. It said all those who ate the meat, numbering about 25, fell ill with similar symptoms, though less severe than those of the deceased. Seven people are suspected to have anthrax in the western district of Kabale, news agency Xinhua reported.

At least three people died and more than 43 cases were reported following an anthrax outbreak in the southwestern Ugandan district of Kanungu in September last year. Several livestock deaths were also reported, including 65 cattle, 10 goats and three sheep. Mass vaccination of animals was launched in the district to prevent the spread of the disease. A temporary ban on the sale of livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and related products, was imposed in Kanungu after an anthrax outbreak was declared in the district on September 17 last year.

News