A deadly outbreak of anthrax has killed two children and one adult and is threatening to wipe out at least 60,000 livestock in Zimbabwe's northern Zambezi Valley, Save the Children warned today

The outbreak comes on top of increasing cholera infections which have killed hundreds of people. At the same time as many as 5.1 million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid.

Anthrax can kill when infected meat is touched or eaten or when infected spores are inhaled. A quarantine zone has been declared in the affected areas of Matebeleland North, but because of the desperate hunger in the region some families are still eating infected meat.

Traders have also been seen taking potentially infected carcasses out of the restricted zones to trade in Victoria Falls, which risks the disease spreading across Zimbabwe and even over the border into neighbouring Zambia.

An emergency assessment by the Save the Children and the Ministry of Health found 32 cases of human anthrax in Binga district. Anthrax infections have also killed 160 livestock, as well as two elephants, 70 hippo and 50 buffalo. 

But with symptoms lying dormant for up to 21 days or more and no communications in the region, the death toll could already be higher.

The extent of the problem

Rachel Pounds, one of Save the Children's country director in Zimbabwe, said: "This may be the biggest anthrax outbreak since the 1979-80 civil war and it could have appalling consequences for Zimbabwe.

"Many families in the Zambezi Valley are so hungry that they are taking meat from the carcasses of their dead animals, even if they know it's diseased, and are feeding it to their children. If the animal has been poisoned by anthrax, those children could die.

"Quarantines may be in place but Zimbabwe's systems have collapsed and the restrictions will be difficult to maintain with such scant resources. Families no longer have a choice here. Even if they know they shouldn't sell their livestock on to traders, it's often their only way of making money to feed themselves."

Very little anthrax vaccination has taken place in Zimbabwe during the past five years and the strain found in the Zambezi Valley has been identified as particularly virulent.

Ms Pounds continued: "If this is not controlled, this outbreak could wipe out 60,000 cattle, goats, pigs and chickens that thousands of families are depending on to survive. Many families in this region have not received food aid because they are able to farm using their livestock. Without that lifeline, they will be unable to feed themselves.

"The crisis in Zimbabwe has gone into freefall and world leaders and donors must respond urgently with money and food to stop the decline. We can save lives by helping to contain the anthrax and cholera outbreaks that are crippling the country. But we need the resources to do it."

With increased resources, Save the Children's emergency team will be responding to the anthrax outbreak by helping to vaccinate cows, providing food, training health workers and educating communities about the dangers of anthrax.

Background

The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe has now reached unprecedented proportions. A cholera epidemic is already crippling the country, which has killed over 360 people.

Up to 5.1 million people will be in need of food aid to survive by the end of the year, over half the country's population. One in 10 children in Zimbabwe die before the age of five, although with rocketing rates of malnutrition and disease, the child mortality rate will also rise.

Save the Children's 200-strong team in Zimbabwe is helping to provide drugs to treat cholera and educating communities how to avoid infection, as well as providing food so that safe cholera treatment camps can be set up to prevent further contamination.

The aid organisation is feeding close to 700,000 people and helping families prepare for the future by distributing seed, small livestock and helping to set up vegetable gardens. Save the Children has worked in Zimbabwe for nearly 25 years.

  

Save the Children's Global Appeal

Save the Children has launched a global appeal to raise money for its work in Zimbabwe. To donate go to www.savethechildren.org.uk

For more information

Please call Rachel Bhatia on +44 (0)7831 650 409, during office hours, please call Sarah Jacobs on +44 (0) 207 012 6836.