Following an anthrax outbreak in some parts of that region, the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council has imposed a one-month ban on the movement of small ruminants and cattle along the eastern corridor of the region.
This was announced in a press statement signed by the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Abubakari Inusah.
According to the statement, some decisions to stop the spread of the germs were made at an emergency meeting of the Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee held on Monday, June 5, 2023, to review the probable anthrax outbreak in the eastern section of the region.
Places affected by the ban include Bawku Municipality, Bawku West, Pusiga, Garu, Tempane, and Binduri Districts.
The RCC revealed that as of Friday, June 2, 2023, 23 sheep and goats, as well as 7 cattle, were confirmed dead in the Bansi and Sapeliga settlements.
Additionally, as of June 5, 2023, 13 suspected human anthrax cases from the Bansi Community, including one fatality, have been documented.
The Council further stated that the Pong-Tamale Veterinary Laboratory has received eleven (11) human samples, which are currently awaiting test findings.
The Regional Directorate of the Veterinary Service has been instructed to start mass vaccinating all ruminants in the Bansi and Sapeliga areas right away.
In the statement, the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council announced the following decisions to contain the outbreak of the disease:
1.A ban on the movement of all ruminants (sheep, goats, cattle, and dogs) from the eastern corridor of the region, including Bawku Municipality, Bawku West, Pusiga, Garu, Tempane, and Binduri Districts.
2. Municipal and District Chief Executives are to ensure that slaughtering, sales, and consumption of cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs are banned for a period of one (1) month, effective June 6, 2023.
3.Veterinary officers have been directed to commence anthrax vaccination of the following categories of animals immediately: cattle, dogs, sheep, and goats.
4.All owners of animals are to make their animals available for vaccination at their respective places of residence. The anthrax vaccination is free for now.
The police have been instructed to apprehend or arrest any person or group of persons who flout this directive.
The Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee, chaired by the Regional Minister, also called for the urgent support and cooperation of all stakeholders before the outbreak becomes a regional or national catastrophe.
The disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anthrax is an infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis.
It is a zoonosis (a disease transmissible from animals to humans) that typically affects ruminants (such as cows, sheep, and goats). The bacteria produce extremely potent toxins, which are responsible for the symptoms and cause a high lethality rate.
Humans can catch the disease from infected animals or through contaminated animal products.
