The government of Zimbabwe has warned the public of the risks of contracting diseases by avoiding eating meat from animals that dies, reports the Herald.
This comes after 16 hippopotamus close to the Zambezi River died of anthrax, confirmed by the Department of Veterinary Services under the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
“From symptoms and microscopy, it is highly suspected that hippos are dying from anthrax… we had an anthrax outbreak two years ago in the same area and anthrax spores can contaminate the environment for over 40 year,” said Dr. Josphat Nyika, director, Department of Veterinary Services.
The doctor further added that people might eat the meat and not fall sick immediately but it didn’t mean the practice was safe.
“Sometimes the effect goes to the skin and lungs. I am pleading that people should stop consuming the meat from any animal that dies on its own even if it was good in condition” said Dr. Joseph Made, the minister for Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation development.
Anthrax is a life threatening disease spread from animals affected by a bacteria, it can be contacted through breathing, eating or when broken skin comes in contact with an infected animal. Symptoms show between the first day to 30 days after infection.
According to the report by the Herald, anthrax was introduced by the Rhodesian forces during the struggle for independence and the spores are difficult to eradicate. During the rainy seasons the top soil is washed away exposing the spores thus causing an anthrax outbreak.
