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Anthrax kills person in Zim
05/01/2006 11:03 - (SA)
Harare - One person has died of anthrax and 27 others are receiving treatment after an outbreak in eastern Zimbabwe, reported state radio on Thursday.
Quoting an official from the country's veterinary services department, the radio said: "One person died from consuming an anthrax-infected carcass and 27 others are under treatment."
The department said at least 40 000 would be vaccinated in the affected areas of Macheke and Chivhu in eastern Zimbabwe where at least 39 cattle have died.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that typically affects livestock, but can be transmitted to humans through exposure to infected animals, either through handling or eating infected meat.
It is characterised in animals by sudden death and bleeding from natural orificies.
An outbreak early last year killed at least three people and infected 206 others in southern Zimbabwe.
Stuart Hargreaves, head of the veterinary services, said animal anthrax was endemic in Zimbabwe and "happens all the time".
He said the latest outbreak had not been any worse than those of previous years.
"Large numbers of people can get exposed to a few animals ... but they can be treated," he said.
- AFP
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