Anthrax Outbreak: Confirmed cases with one person reported dead.
Anthrax Outbreak: A suspected incidence of anthrax has killed one person in the Upper East Region’s Binduri District.
This follows the ingestion of an anthrax-infected cow’s carcass.
According to a news statement published by the Ghana Health Service’s Upper East Regional Health Directorate on Friday, June 2, four cattle died of anthrax in a Binduri district suburb.
According to the announcement, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Dzotse, and his colleagues have begun tracing 11 additional persons suspected of consuming the contaminated mammal’s body.
“On June 1, 2023, the Regional Health Directorate had a report of two (2) suspected cases of anthrax with one death in Binduri District as a result of consuming the carcass.”
“Four cattle have died in the affected locality.” So far, eleven (11) probable cases have been detected, and contact tracing operations are continuing in the impacted community,” according to the announcement.
Dr. Dzote further stated that samples from all suspects will be collected for testing and treated with Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline.
As a precaution, all districts bordering Binduri were asked to stay watchful and increase monitoring.
In addition, the Regional Director of Health Services stated that his team will increase risk communication about the disease and its prevention.
He asked residents to avoid consuming animal carcasses until the reason of death was determined.
Dr. Dzotse also advised cattle owners in all regions to seek veterinary help for holistic disease control.
What is Anthrax
Anthrax is a deadly infectious illness resulting from Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria.
It is found naturally in soil and regularly affects domestic and wild animals worldwide.
Anthrax may make people sick if they come into touch with diseased animals or contaminated animal products.
How is Anthrax transmitted?
When anthrax spores enter the body, they infect people. When this occurs, the spores can be triggered and transform into anthrax bacteria. The bacteria can then proliferate and spread throughout the body, producing toxins (poisons) and causing serious sickness.
Anthrax is spread by:
Taking in spores,
Eating infected food or drinking polluted water, or
Getting spores in a skin wound or scrape.
