Human–animal anthrax outbreak in the Luangwa valley of Zambia in 2011

Mudenda B. Hang'ombe; James C.L. Mwansa; Sergio Muwowo; Phillip Mulenga; Muzala Kapina; Eric Musenga; David Squarre; Liywali Mataa; Suzuki Y. Thomas; Hirohito Ogawa; Hirofumi Sawa; Hideaki Higashi

doi:10.1258/td.2012.110454

Human–animal anthrax outbreak in the Luangwa valley of Zambia in 2011

Mudenda B. Hang'ombe, James C.L. Mwansa, Sergio Muwowo, Phillip Mulenga, Muzala Kapina, Eric Musenga, David Squarre, Liywali Mataa, Suzuki Y. Thomas, Hirohito Ogawa, Hirofumi Sawa, Hideaki Higashi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of hippopotamuses, suspected human cases were reported. The objective of this study was to isolate and confirm Bacillus anthracis and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of the disease. Of the specimens collected, 29.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–56.0) were from humans, 42.1% (95% CI, 21.1–66.0) were from hippopotamuses and 20.0% (95% CI, 6.61–44.3) from the soil were found to be positive were for B. anthracis. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were found to be sensitive to the recommended antibiotics. The disease control was achieved by case management and by explaining to the communities that they should avoid contact with animals that die from unknown causes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	136-139
Number of pages	4
Journal	Tropical Doctor
Volume	42
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1258/td.2012.110454
Publication status	Published - Jul 2012
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1258/td.2012.110454

Cite this

@article{90e3ba63521b45cda1531fe5ba830ea6,

title = "Human–animal anthrax outbreak in the Luangwa valley of Zambia in 2011",

abstract = "There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of hippopotamuses, suspected human cases were reported. The objective of this study was to isolate and confirm Bacillus anthracis and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of the disease. Of the specimens collected, 29.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–56.0) were from humans, 42.1% (95% CI, 21.1–66.0) were from hippopotamuses and 20.0% (95% CI, 6.61–44.3) from the soil were found to be positive were for B. anthracis. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were found to be sensitive to the recommended antibiotics. The disease control was achieved by case management and by explaining to the communities that they should avoid contact with animals that die from unknown causes.",

author = "Hang'ombe, {Mudenda B.} and Mwansa, {James C.L.} and Sergio Muwowo and Phillip Mulenga and Muzala Kapina and Eric Musenga and David Squarre and Liywali Mataa and Thomas, {Suzuki Y.} and Hirohito Ogawa and Hirofumi Sawa and Hideaki Higashi",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: The corresponding author is a Postdoctoral Fellow under the theme Rare Bacterial Diseases supported by the Wellcome trust Grant No. WT 087546MA for one medicine Africa-UK research capacity development partnership for infectious diseases in Southern Africa under the Southern African Center for infectious disease surveillance. No competing financial interests exist.",

year = "2012",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1258/td.2012.110454",

language = "English",

volume = "42",

pages = "136--139",

journal = "Tropical Doctor",

issn = "0049-4755",

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AU - Hang'ombe, Mudenda B.

AU - Mwansa, James C.L.

AU - Muwowo, Sergio

AU - Mulenga, Phillip

AU - Kapina, Muzala

AU - Musenga, Eric

AU - Squarre, David

AU - Mataa, Liywali

AU - Thomas, Suzuki Y.

AU - Ogawa, Hirohito

AU - Sawa, Hirofumi

AU - Higashi, Hideaki

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: The corresponding author is a Postdoctoral Fellow under the theme Rare Bacterial Diseases supported by the Wellcome trust Grant No. WT 087546MA for one medicine Africa-UK research capacity development partnership for infectious diseases in Southern Africa under the Southern African Center for infectious disease surveillance. No competing financial interests exist.

PY - 2012/7

Y1 - 2012/7

N2 - There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of hippopotamuses, suspected human cases were reported. The objective of this study was to isolate and confirm Bacillus anthracis and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of the disease. Of the specimens collected, 29.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–56.0) were from humans, 42.1% (95% CI, 21.1–66.0) were from hippopotamuses and 20.0% (95% CI, 6.61–44.3) from the soil were found to be positive were for B. anthracis. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were found to be sensitive to the recommended antibiotics. The disease control was achieved by case management and by explaining to the communities that they should avoid contact with animals that die from unknown causes.

AB - There has been a reduction of incidences of anthrax in the developed countries but it is still a public health problem in the developing countries where communities live in interface areas with wildlife. An outbreak of anthrax in Hippopotamus amphibious was observed in Zambia. Following the death of hippopotamuses, suspected human cases were reported. The objective of this study was to isolate and confirm Bacillus anthracis and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of the disease. Of the specimens collected, 29.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–56.0) were from humans, 42.1% (95% CI, 21.1–66.0) were from hippopotamuses and 20.0% (95% CI, 6.61–44.3) from the soil were found to be positive were for B. anthracis. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were found to be sensitive to the recommended antibiotics. The disease control was achieved by case management and by explaining to the communities that they should avoid contact with animals that die from unknown causes.

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Human–animal anthrax outbreak in the Luangwa valley of Zambia in 2011

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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