Anthrax kills 82 hippos in Uganda

2010-07-29 12:55

Kampala - Ugandan officials say an anthrax outbreak has killed 82 hippos in the last month and a half.

National anthrax task force spokesperson Nicholas Kauta said the outbreak began in Queen Elizabeth National Park in June and has also killed nine buffaloes.

He said on Thursday that no humans are known to have contracted the deadly disease during the outbreak and that tourism has been unaffected.

Anthrax also killed 300 hippos in 2004. Anthrax spores can occur naturally in soil and can remain dormant for years.

Drought, floods or wind expose the spores and they can be ingested when livestock graze close to the ground. Vaccines can protect livestock.

- AP