Vihiga County Witnesses Anthrax Epidemic Causing the Death of Over Ten Cows

In Vihiga Sub-County, Kenya, an anthrax outbreak has been confirmed, leading to a series of preventative measures and responses from authorities.

According to health officials, meat should only be sourced from inspected and approved outlets to prevent the spread of anthrax. This is because anthrax can spread to humans through direct contact with infected animals or their products, consumption of contaminated meat, or inhalation of spores.

To combat this outbreak, the county government has launched a mass anthrax vaccination exercise, targeting over 1,500 cows and 200 goats in the affected areas. The vaccines used in Kenya include imported brands such as Blanthrax and Bivax, administered through ring vaccination campaigns and preventive mass vaccination.

In addition to vaccination, the One Health approach is being employed, integrating human, animal, and environmental health sectors for enhanced surveillance, rapid outbreak response, and coordinated vaccination campaigns of livestock. This strategy also emphasizes prompt diagnosis and treatment of human cases alongside animal vaccination efforts.

Public awareness among farming communities about the risks of handling infected animal carcasses and safe livestock management is also being raised. Improved disease reporting systems are being put in place to enable quicker response to outbreaks. Residents are being urged to report any sudden animal deaths and warned to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms after handling animals or animal products.

Vihiga County Public Health Director, Martin Osotsi, confirmed that all sites where carcasses were found or dumped have been disinfected. Health alerts have been issued due to the outbreak, and residents are urged to remain vigilant and avoid eating meat that has not been approved and stamped by medical professionals.

The current preventive measures for anthrax infections in Vihiga, Kenya, primarily focus on routine livestock vaccination, One Health-based surveillance and outbreak response, public awareness, and reporting systems. For treatment, early detection and timely antibiotic therapy are critical for patients infected with anthrax.

Kenya aims to reduce anthrax cases in animals to less than 1% of the 2020 baseline by 2036 through these strategies, involving coordinated efforts from the national Zoonotic Disease Unit and county governments, including Vihiga County. These approaches align with global recommendations and Kenya’s national strategy for anthrax control, aiming to drastically reduce anthrax incidence by 2036.

[1] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2021). Kenya: Anthrax. [online] Available at: https://www.oie.int/en/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/specific-information-and-recommendations-list/kenya-anthrax/ [Accessed 20 Apr. 2023].

[4] Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVET). (2021). Anthrax. [online] Available at: https://kevet.go.ke/diseases/anthrax/ [Accessed 20 Apr. 2023].

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