Zambians warned not to eat dead wildlife after anthrax kills dozens of animals

The Zambian government has intensified public health surveillance and launched an extensive awareness campaign following a severe anthrax outbreak across parts of Muchinga Province. Officials confirmed that at least 12 individuals have contracted the bacterial infection and are undergoing medical treatment after consuming contaminated meat harvested from wildlife carcasses found dead in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area. The outbreak has claimed the lives of numerous wild animals since July, including dozens of hippos, several elephants, buffaloes, and a crocodile. National Disaster Risk Management Division National Coordinator Norman Chipakupaku noted that local populations often depend on available game sources for sustenance, which unfortunately led to the consumption of the infected carcasses. While no human fatalities have been recorded thus far in connection with this latest surge, authorities remain on high alert as medical teams and veterinary officers are deployed to treat patients, monitor community health, and contain the spread of the disease. In response to the crisis, the government has instituted rigorous containment measures, including the establishment of police roadblocks to prevent the transport or sale of potentially contaminated meat from entering regional markets. Officials have also called for a temporary suspension of hunting and handling of animal carcasses in the affected zones. Veterinary units are actively disinfecting and safely disposing of discovered animal remains through burning and deep burial to neutralize bacterial spores. This incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities regarding zoonotic disease transmission in rural communities adjacent to game management areas. Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, poses a persistent hazard when livestock or humans come into direct contact with infected tissues or consume uninspected meat. Past occurrences, including a widespread multi-province outbreak, under