DRC: anthrax outbreak in North Kivu province

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday, May 1, that the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed an anthrax outbreak in the eastern part of North Kivu province. The outbreak is centered around Lake Edward on the DR Congo-Uganda border, with 1 confirmed case, 16 suspected, and 1 death. One case has been reported on the Ugandan side of the border, while another seven have been recorded in the western Kabale district. Early signs of the spread of the disease were noticed in Virunga National Park toward the end of March, with dozens of buffaloes and hippopotamuses dying from it. In a statement, Boureima Sambo, WHO representative in DR Congo, said the organization and its local partners are working to break the animal-to-human transmission chain and strengthen response measures to protect public health. These measures include livestock vaccination.
Anthrax is a bacterial infection that primarily affects animals. However, humans can contract it from infected animals or contaminated animal products. The disease is generally not contagious among humans, although there have been rare cases of person-to-person transmission. The most common form of anthrax in humans is the cutaneous one, which occurs when spores come into contact with broken skin, causing an itchy bump that later turns into a black sore. Infection is accompanied by fever, headache, and vomiting. Another common anthrax form among humans is the gastrointestinal one, caused by eating contaminated meat. It provokes food poisoning-like symptoms that can become pretty severe, with bloody vomiting and diarrhea.