DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's National Ranching Company on Monday advised people to buy beef from licensed butcheries to avoid eating beef infected with anthrax.
Philemon Wambura, Acting General Manager of the state-owned organization producing beef cattle for domestic and export markets, said buying beef from unlicensed butcheries could lead to consuming meat contaminated with the bacteria that cause anthrax.
According to medical experts, anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis. Symptoms begin between one day and two months after contraction.
Wambura made the warning following media reports last week that the deadly disease left five people dead and 21 cattle killed in Rombo district in Kilimanjaro region.
"People should eat meat that is inspected by veterinary officers and sold in licensed butcheries," said Wambura.
Last month, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the four people died after they ate meat suspected to have been contaminated with the bacteria that cause anthrax. Enditem
Last week, Songwe Regional Administrative Secretary David Kafulila said the situation was now under control.
He said since the report of the disease in the region on Dec. 10, regional authorities have taken measures aimed at ending the spread of the disease that left 81 people falling ill after they ate infected meat.
"Since Jan. 7 this year, we haven't recorded any new cases of anthrax in Songwe region," Kafulila told Xinhua in an interview.
Kafulila said measures taken by Songwe regional authorities to control the outbreak of the disease included vaccinating all livestock in the region.
He said by Feb. 14, a total of 20,181 heads of cattle, 292 goats and 29 sheep were vaccinated, adding that the region has bought 50,500 vaccines and more will be purchased through a revolving fund.
