ANTHRAX KILLS 2 IN UPPER EAST REGION

THE REFUSAL of some owners of livestock, at Tindongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, to vaccinate their animals against anthrax, has led to the death of two persons, eleven animals, and left seven other persons sick.

Disclosing this to The Chronicle in Bolgatanga yesterday, after his return from Tindongo, the Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Thomas Anyorikeya, lamented that no deaths would have been recorded in the area, if owners of the affected animals had vaccinated them when his office carried out a vaccination exercise in that area in March this year.

He explained that anthrax was caused by bacteria called anthrax bacteria. It was soil-borne, and when animals grazed, especially during the dry season, or when the grasses were too low, they picked up some of the spores from the soil. The germs then multiply in the animal leading to its death.

Dr. Anyorikeya continued that when people consume the meat of the dead animals, they also contract the disease. The victims are then hit with boils on various parts of the body.

According to him, between March 4 and 20 this year, staff of his office embarked on a vaccination exercise in the Tindongo and Shaiga areas, which have records of the disease. However, some of the owners of livestock did not vaccinate their animals - mainly goats and sheep.

The officer said on June 22, the news about the death of the two persons reached community health volunteers in the area, who alerted his office. He immediately deployed his staff to the affected community, and all the remaining smoked meat were seized and buried, while animal pens and the sites, where the dead animals were prepared, were also disinfected.

Dr. Anyorikeya said the incident took place in a large household, where nine people fell sick after consuming the dead animals, leading to the death of the two persons, ten goats and one sheep.

He disclosed that his office had secured vaccines that could vaccinate 1,200 animals, including goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, and cattle. He said if people desisted from opening up dead animals, and presented their animals for vaccination, the veterinary would be able to control the disease.

At the time of filing this report, Dr. Anyorikeya had returned from the affected community, where a number of animals were vaccinated. He insisted that people should present their animals for vaccination against anthrax, since it was only Gp20.

The Regional Secretary of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Mr. Joseph Abarike, said the society would use its volunteers and women's groups to carry out intensive education on the dangers associated with anthrax.