The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed an anthrax outbreak in the eastern North Kivu Province, resulting in one death, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
Four health zones around Lake Edward, near the border with Uganda, have been affected, with one confirmed and 16 suspected human cases.
Initial signs of the outbreak surfaced on March 22 in Virunga National Park, where dozens of wild animals, including buffalo and hippopotamuses, were found dead. The outbreak has since raised concerns about animal-to-human transmission in the region.
Anthrax, a serious bacterial infection, primarily affects livestock and wildlife but can also infect humans through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. The WHO has linked the current outbreak to a similar one across the border in Uganda’s Kabale district, where seven suspected human cases have been reported.
“Our efforts are focused on swiftly breaking the animal-to-human transmission,” said Dr. Boureima Sambo, WHO representative in the Congo. “We’re working closely with the government, communities, and partners to strengthen response measures to protect public health now and in the future.”
According to the WHO, livestock vaccination and community engagement are central to the ongoing response. Though human-to-human transmission of anthrax is rare, health officials are urging caution and adherence to safety protocols.
Anthrax in humans typically appears in three forms: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. The most common, cutaneous anthrax, causes skin lesions and flu-like symptoms, while gastrointestinal anthrax—contracted through consumption of infected meat—can lead to severe abdominal complications.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are implementing containment measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Storm Kristin has killed at least five people and left more than 850,000 residents of central and northern Portugal without electricity on Wednesday (...
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower hous...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to ...
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday (29 January) for talks he hopes will deepen economic ties, sign...
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran on Wednesday (28 January) to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or the next U.S. attack would...
A mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in war‑torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a national park said on Wednesday, calling the event “a major event” for the endangered subspecies.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s president has pledged to pursue justice for victims of the conflict in the east despite a peace deal with Rwanda, calling the accord a hopeful yet fragile step toward regional stability.
The UN has welcomed a U.S.-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, calling it a major step toward regional stability.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, raising hopes of ending fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
France’s National Assembly has approved a bill banning access to social media for children under 15, a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron and the government as part of efforts to protect teenagers’ mental and physical health.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Sanctions are a long-used tool designed as an alternative to military force and with the objective of changing governments’ behaviour, but they also end up hurting civilian citizens.
Residents in Syria’s Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli have stepped up volunteer patrols amid growing pressure from the country’s Islamist-led government, expressing deep mistrust of Damascus despite a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.
High-level diplomatic consultations were held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday as Ankara seeks to solidify the fragile progress of the Gaza ceasefire and accelerate the delivery of life-saving assistance to the strip.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower house, a preliminary survey by the Nikkei newspaper showed on Thursday (29 January).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday (29 January) for talks he hopes will deepen economic ties, signalling a potential breakthrough after years of strained relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran on Wednesday (28 January) to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or the next U.S. attack would be far worse. Tehran responded with a threat to strike back against the United States.
Life will be particularly tough for Ukrainians over the next three weeks due to plunging temperatures and a compromised energy infrastructure that has been pummeled by intense Russian attacks, depriving millions of light and heat, a senior lawmaker said on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment