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Anthrax kills 44 hippos in eastern Zambia: minister

Xinhua, October 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Zambian government on Thursday confirmed an outbreak of anthrax, which has killed 44 hippos in Chama district in the country's eastern region.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the outbreak of the disease could be due to low water levels, with the first case recorded on Sept. 22.

He said in a ministerial statement in parliament that people in the district have since been advised against eating hippo meat because as it was infected with anthrax.

"We have dispatched an emergency multisectoral team to Chama and we are sensitizing people in the area not to eat hippo meat," he said.

A mobile laboratory has also been set up in the area and sufficient machines have been provided, he added.

The minister however said there was no need to panic as so far the disease has not affected people in the area. Endit