U/E: Anthrax kills two

Two people have died, while three others are in the hospital after consuming the meat of animals suspected to have been infected with Anthrax disease at Widnaba, in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

Mr Benjamin Aggrey, the District Director of Health, revealed this to the media after a sensitisation programme organised by the District Health Administration (DHA) in the community.

On March 1, when some animals fell sick and died, some people ate the meat of the infected animals and developed symptoms of anthrax afterwards.

Mr Aggrey said investigations by the DHA revealed that the death of the two individuals was caused by the disease, and medicines were dispatched to the area on Monday, March 7 to cater for about 30 people in the area including the families of the deceased persons who also consumed the carcasses.

The Director advised the chief and people to desist from eating the meat of dead animals without proper examination by veterinary officers.

Naba Ramson Anamor Akotam II, Divisional Chief of the area, commended the Health Directorate for the prompt response and said he would personally disseminate the information to his people.

Mr Alhassan Iddi, the District Veterinary Officer, further indicated that only one community had so far been affected, but technical officers in the area were assessing the situation while they awaited vaccines for the animals.