Outbreaks of human and animal anthrax have been reported in the Arua, Kween and Kiruhura districts of Uganda, according to Dr Juliet Sentumbwe, Director Animal Ressources, Department of Livestock, Health and Entomology, OUG Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries in Entebbe.
Image/Robert Herriman
Goats, sheep and cattle have been affected by the outbreaks.
The UN Children’s Fund says ten animal and twelve human cases had been reported.
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The National Task Force (NTF) sent a Rapid Response Team (RRT) under One health platform (MoH, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Uganda Wild Life Authority) to conduct a comprehensive assessment and identify key drivers of the outbreak. Another team was sent to Kween district – Eastern Uganda/ neighboring Kenya, which had reported several cases. Preliminary findings from both Rapid Response Teams revealed that anthrax is associated with skinning, carrying and eating animals (dead cows) that had died suddenly.
