Tanzania grapples to contain anthrax outbreak in cattle

Tanzanian health authorities are struggling to contain anthrax outbreak, which has already killed one person, with four others being hospitalized in the country's northern region of Kilimanjaro.

Regional Medical Officer Ntamwa Mwako said on Wednesday that Rombo district in Kilimanjaro Region is one of the highly affected areas in northern part of the east African nation.

"We've managed to control the outbreak in the region, so far we have only four patients admitted in hospital and they are responding well to treatments," the official said.

"We almost controlled anthrax, and our team of experts continues to be monitored closely the 197 residents who are suspected to have contacted with the dead person," Mwako said.

"We are still working on the number of animals that died because of the disease," Mwako said.

Anthrax spores are spread by dust, carrion-eating birds and grazing animals, causing fever and rapid death. Humans are normally infected only by handling the carcasses, skins or wool of infected animals.

According to Meck Sadik, the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, 197 people are being monitored closely by health specialists after they had eaten meat of cattle which died of anthrax.

In response to the outbreak of the disease, the regional authorities called for a massive vaccination program. Animals which are lined-up for the vaccination exercise include cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.

The regional government also banned transportation of animals to the neighboring Kenya, particularly during immunization exercise. Endit