Muchinga Province has vaccinated more than 8,000 livestock against anthrax in three districts as authorities recorded one more human infection and death of five wild animals in Mpika.
Nabwalya chiefdom in Mpika District has recorded the additional case of the disease, bringing cumulative human infections to 26, as of yesterday while the new animal deaths raise the number of mortalities to 64.
More than 8,000 animals have so far been vaccinated against the anthrax disease in Lavushimanda, Mpika and Shiwang’andu districts of Muchinga Province against the 20,000 target.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Muchinga Province Coordinator Nasilele Kalonga said 8,233 animals had been vaccinated, as of Sunday while Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD) confirmed that one more human case and five wildlife mortalities had been recorded.
Dr Kalonga said in a status report on anthrax that cumulatively, 6,551 cattle, 1,324 goats and 358 sheep had been vaccinated in Lavushimanda, Mpika and Shiwang’andu districts respectively.
According to a statement made available to Times of Zambia by the DRMD, the cumulative number of reported human cases as of yesterday stood at 26.
DRMD National Coordinator Norman Chipakupaku said the cumulative number of reported human cases stood at 26, according to assessment undertaken in Nabwalya Game Management Area.
Following the animal health and wildlife laboratory assessment team that undertook carcass assessments, specimen collection and environmental sampling, the affected areas recorded five additional animal mortalities.
The assessment was coordinated by Muchinga Provincial Office, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Central Veterinary Research Institute.
