TWO CONFRIMED DEAD FOLLOWING OUTBREAK OF ANTHRAX IN WIDNABA

At least two people have been reported dead following an outbreak of anthrax at Widnaba, a community near Zebilla in the Bawku West District of the upper east region. Several others are battling for survival at the Bawku West district hospital in the wake of the outbreak. Experts have warned the public against patronising unauthorised slaughter houses in the region to avoid getting infected.   Reports gathered by Radio Ghana suggest that three cows and eleven sheep suddenly died of what was suspected to be anthrax. The deceased, a young man and a middle aged woman reportedly consumed the meat of one of the dead animals and died shortly after. Some fifteen people who apparently had eaten from the meat of the infected ruminants at separate locations were rushed to the district hospital where they were admitted for showing signs of the disease.  The number swelled after more people showing symptoms of anthrax reported at the same hospital.  The Head of Public Health for the Veterinary Services of Ghana, Dr. Bashiru Boi Kikimoto, has therefore warned the public to be cautious because the animals move from one place to the other. He has advised residents to buy from authorised slaughter houses. Meanwhile, a team of veterinary officers is said to have vaccinated ruminants belonging to relatives of the deceased and those that belong to the surviving victims in the aftermath of the outbreak to stem the spread of the virus.  Anxious residents told Radio Ghana the disaster calls for more public education and wider vaccination particularly in the rural areas. They argued that if any animal dies and no fly settles on the meat, then the animal died of anthrax stressing that sometimes people overlook all these because of love of meat.  Residents say the incident of anthrax outbreaks do happen but people do not learn from the mistakes of others and so they perish for lack of ignorance. Founder of Widows and Orphans Movement, Betty Ayageba called for proper public education on anthrax disease and its outbreaks. A security officer, Lazarus Agana, appealed to individual commercial butchers and those who rear ruminants for profit making purposes in the region to put the wellbeing of the public above their personal interests by not selling but rather bury animals that die under unexplained circumstances.  Anthrax generally comes with symptoms that include painless skin sores that appear around the face, neck, arms or hands, fever and chills, chest discomfort, headache among others. Victims often discharge blood through their nostrils, ears, eyes and anus when they are about to die.