Anthrax in Butembo, North Kivu, DRC
The Provincial Health Division (DPS), Butembo branch, in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported, during a press conference held this Monday, April 28, 2025, the identification of eleven suspected cases of anthrax since February 2025.
According to information provided by Mumbere Luhavo Damulu, focal point of the national health promotion communication program within the DPS of Butembo, these cases are currently undergoing laboratory investigations for confirmation.
He said the majority of suspected cases were identified in the Lubero health zone. Along with human cases, suspected cases were also observed in animals in the said territory, which were incinerated in accordance with health protocols.
"We have recorded at least 11 human cases with one death. There have also been cases of animals that were sick and died as well. We had to cremate/destroy them. All the evidence is not yet in place for us to truly speak of anthrax. We had to take samples from these cases," he said.
The DPS communications manager called on health professionals to be vigilant and the public to refrain from consuming meat not inspected by the competent authorities.
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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.
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.
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.