Zambia anthrax outbreak: 12 infected, 60 wild animals dead

Zambia’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit says 60 wild animals — 46 hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes and one crocodile — have died in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area in Muchinga province since July in an anthrax outbreak that has infected 12 people. No human deaths have been reported.

How many animals and people have been affected?

The 12 infected people are receiving treatment, according to Zambia’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, the agency handling the response. The animal deaths recorded since July cover the Munyamadzi Game Management Area in Muchinga province. Officials say they have not yet established the full geographical extent of the outbreak, with surveillance and laboratory investigations continuing.

What have authorities told the public?

Zambians have been urged not to consume, sell, distribute or handle meat from animals that died suddenly or from suspected anthrax, and the public has been advised against handling wild animals. Authorities have also called for hunting in the affected area to be suspended until the extent of the disease and the risks it carries are established. A disaster management agency official said over the weekend that the 12 infections followed the consumption of dead wildlife in the Munyamadzi River area. Norman Chipakupaku, national coordinator of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, said: “The sad story about the deaths of this wildlife is that the carcasses ended up being eaten by the local people – that’s what they depend on for their food.”

What is anthrax and how does it spread?

Anthrax is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, which largely survives as spores that remain in soil for years before entering an animal through inhalation or through a cut or wound. It mainly affects grazing animals and can lead to sudden death, and it can be transmitted from animals to humans through contact with contaminated animal products. Elsewhere, researchers have flagged gaps in evidence on badger TB vaccination in Wales.

Has Zambia had anthrax outbreaks before?

Anthrax is endemic to Zambia, but human deaths are not common. In 2023 the country experienced what was described as an “unprecedented outbreak”, which killed four people and spread to nine out of Zambia’s 10 provinces. Another large-scale outbreak was reported in 2011, with more than 500 cases, when five people died after consuming meat from infected hippos.

Frequently asked questions

How many people have been infected with anthrax in Zambia’s current outbreak?

Twelve people have been infected after consuming dead wildlife in the Munyamadzi River area, according to Zambia’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit. All 12 are receiving treatment and no human deaths have been reported.

Which animals died in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area?

Since July, 46 hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes and one crocodile have died in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area in Muchinga province, Zambian officials say.

Can anthrax pass from animals to humans?

Yes. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and can be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal products. Zambians have been told not to consume, sell, distribute or handle meat from animals that died suddenly.

Is anthrax endemic in Zambia?

Anthrax is endemic to Zambia, although human deaths are not common. A 2023 outbreak killed four people and spread to nine of the country’s 10 provinces, and in 2011 more than 500 cases were reported, with five deaths linked to meat from infected hippos.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Global Map — World Maps / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)