Tuesday, September 15, 2026 -Authorities in Zambia have warned residents not to eat meat from wild animals after dozens died from an anthrax outbreak.
Over the weekend, officials reported that 12 people had
caught the disease after eating dead wildlife in the Munyamadzi River area.
The public has been urged to avoid consuming meat from
animals that die naturally or from unknown causes and to report any cases they
encounter.
Hunting has been temporarily banned in the affected area
until officials understand the full extent of the disease and the risks it
poses.
Investigations are still ongoing to determine how far the
outbreak has spread geographically.
Anthrax is common in Zambia, but human deaths from it are
rare.
In 2023, the country experienced what was called an
"unprecedented outbreak" that killed four people and spread across
nine of the country's ten provinces.
A major outbreak in 2011 saw more than 500 cases, with five
deaths linked to infected hippo meat.
In the current outbreak in Munyamadzi Game Management Area
in Muchinga province, authorities have counted 46 dead hippos, eight elephants,
five buffaloes and one crocodile since July.
Local people have been eating the carcasses, which is their
main food source. So far no deaths have been reported, and the 12 infected
people are being treated.
Anthrax spreads through bacteria that live as spores in soil
for years before infecting animals through inhalation or wounds.
It mainly affects grazing animals and can cause sudden
death.
It passes to humans through contact with infected animal
products.
Zambians have been advised against handling, consuming,
selling or distributing meat from animals that die suddenly or are suspected of
having anthrax, and to avoid handling wild animals altogether.
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