Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has said it has contained an anthrax outbreak that was threatening wildlife in the Zambezi Valley.
The outbreak, reported about a fortnight ago, claimed the lives of six elephants, three buffaloes, one lion and an impala.
In a statement Zimparks public relations manager Mr Tinashe Farawo, said the wildlife authority had managed to contain the outbreak but remained on high alert for possible new outbreaks.
“Zimparks has managed to contain the outbreak of anthrax in Zambezi Valley which has claimed the lives of six elephants, three buffaloes, one lion and an impala. Zimparks remains on high alert to prevent further outbreaks and loss of wildlife,” said Mr Farawo.
The outbreak comes barely a year after 20 hippos were found dead in the Zambezi River in Mlibizi, Binga District after being infected with anthrax.
In an interview last week, Hwange District Veterinary Officer Dr Lovemore Dube said veral animal carcasses had been found in Matetsi Unit 6 and 7 along the Zambezi Valley.
He, however, said controlling and preventing was difficult because it was widespread.
“Control and prevention is difficult because it’s endemic. It’s in the soil and we should expect it during the drought season. But on the livestock side we don’t have cattle near those areas, otherwise we would have vaccinated them. We have an anthrax vaccine but for wildlife it’s difficult to vaccinate them, all that we can do is have proper sanitary measures in the disposal of those carcasses. For example by deep burying or burning so that they are not eaten by predators that may further spread the disease,” said Dr Dube.
He said the drought that the country is experiencing was also worsening the situation.
“We had outbreaks of anthrax one-and-a-half years ago that resulted in several hippos being affected and died. This anthrax is endemic along the whole Zambezi Valley and because of this drought, the spores are now being exposed to the surface. For example, we had some heavy downpours, which lasted two days after a prolonged drought which washed away the topsoil and exposed the lower part of the soils where the spores are. The wildlife will be drinking from those pools of water that will be infected with anthrax. We could have lost several wild animals,” said Dr Dube.
He warned members of the public against buying biltong from unknown sources.
“The danger of it spreading to humans is there especially if it is consumed, there are bound to be deaths even in humans taking into account that anthrax affects all warm blooded species. We have been carrying out awareness campaigns against buying biltong from unknown sources as some unscrupulous people can harvest meat from some wild animals killed by anthrax.”
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Anthrax is spread by contact with the bacterium’s spores, which often appear in infectious animal products.
Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.
@peterkmatika
Online Reporter