The government of Sierra Leone on Monday, May 16, 2022, announced the outbreak of Anthrax disease among animals in the northwestern district of Port Loko.
Ninety-one head of cattle, 53 goats and 79 sheep have died of the disease, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakarr Karim.
No human infection has been confirmed so far.
The Minister of Agriculture said the government has instituted a ban on livestock market and quarantine on sheds in community where the outbreak is reported.
“Government is evaluating its options to institute restrictions on the production, processing, and marketing of livestock products mainly cattle, sheep, and goats,” the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture said in that joint statement.
The government warned communities to avoid eating dead animals and should not administer treatment on any sick animal because anthrax could be transmitted from animals to humans.
Chernor Jalloh is one of the affected cattle herders in Kamasodo town. He said that when they observed that their herds were dying at an alarming rate they initially thought it was food poisoning.
He said that the disease spread to six cattle sheds in the community in March.
Anthrax is a bacterial pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Animals such as cattle, sheep and goats are highly susceptible to the disease.
Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of many animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected.
Anthrax is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This spore forming bacteria can survive in the environment for decades because of its ability to resist heat, cold, drying, etc.
There are no reports of person-to-person transmission of anthrax. People get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals.
By Alusine Sesay