Anthrax in Africa: Kenya and Uganda
From January1 to May 5 this year, a total of 83 human anthrax cases (12 confirmed, 4 probable and 67 suspected) and three deaths (25 percent of the confirmed) in two African Union Member States (AU/MS)- Kenya (7 cases) and Uganda (76 cases/3 deaths).
In just the latest week, 48 cases were reported in Amudat district, Uganda.
Confirmed animal anthrax outbreak cases were reported concurrently in both countries.
A rapid response team has been deployed to Amudat by the Ministry of Health.
Anthrax is a bacterial pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Ruminants such as bison, cattle, sheep and goats are highly susceptible, and horses can also be infected.
Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected.
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When conditions become favorable, the spores germinate into colonies of bacteria. An example would be a grazing cow ingests spores that in the cow, germinate, grow spread and eventually kill the animal.
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. This is usually the infectious stage of anthrax.
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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 and more recently, intentional release of spores.
There are three types of human anthrax with differing degrees of seriousness: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation.
The average case fatality rate ranges from 20-30% in untreated cutaneous anthrax, 25-75% CFR for gastrointestinal anthrax and 80% of higher for inhalation anthrax.