Human–animal anthrax outbreak in the Luangwa valley of Zambia in 2011

There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical doctor 2012-07, Vol.42 (3), p.136-139
Main Authors: Hang'ombe, Mudenda B, Mwansa, James C L, Muwowo, Sergio, Mulenga, Phillip, Kapina, Muzala, Musenga, Eric, Squarre, David, Mataa, Liywali, Thomas, Suzuki Y, Ogawa, Hirohito, Sawa, Hirofumi, Higashi, Hideaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Wild - microbiology
Anthrax - epidemiology
Anthrax - microbiology
Anthrax - mortality
Anthrax - veterinary
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Artiodactyla - microbiology
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis - drug effects
Bacillus anthracis - isolation & purification
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Disease Outbreaks
Female
General aspects
Hippopotamus
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Incidence
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Miscellaneous
Soil Microbiology
Zambia - epidemiology
Zoonoses - epidemiology
Zoonoses - microbiology
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Summary:There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of hippopotamuses, suspected human cases were reported. The objective of this study was to isolate and confirm Bacillus anthracis and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of the disease. Of the specimens collected, 29.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–56.0) were from humans, 42.1% (95% CI, 21.1–66.0) were from hippopotamuses and 20.0% (95% CI, 6.61–44.3) from the soil were found to be positive were for B. anthracis. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were found to be sensitive to the recommended antibiotics. The disease control was achieved by case management and by explaining to the communities that they should avoid contact with animals that die from unknown causes.
ISSN:0049-4755
1758-1133
DOI:10.1258/td.2012.110454