A local official confirmed that at least 17 individuals succumbed to an anthrax outbreak in southern Uganda during November.
Assuring that the situation remained “under control,” the official shed light on the nature of anthrax, which is caused by a bacterium encased in a durable, rod-shaped shell.
Anthrax spores occur naturally in soil and commonly infect livestock that ingest or inhale them while grazing. Humans can contract the infection by breathing in the spores, consuming contaminated food, or through skin abrasions, such as handling diseased animals.
The outbreak in Kyotera district, situated approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Kampala, resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals in November, as confirmed by the district’s health official, Edward Muwanga, to AFP.
Muwanga said that they were “suspected to have eaten meat from the farm where the animals had contracted anthrax”.
“We are working with teams from the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala and the World Health Organization who are on the ground to help in containing the situation and it is under control,” Muwanga said.
