Anthrax kills 40 zebras in Mburo

May 03, 2005

ANTHRAX has killed about 40 zebras in Lake Mburo National Park since the epidemic reportedly broke out in the area three years ago.<br>Tourism state minister Jovino Akaki Ayumu yesterday said 2% of the zebra population had died.

By Isaac Kalembe

ANTHRAX has killed about 40 zebras in Lake Mburo National Park since the epidemic reportedly broke out in the area three years ago.
Tourism state minister Jovino Akaki Ayumu yesterday said 2% of the zebra population had died.

“We have lost some 40 zebras since an unusual death of 13 zebras was reported in May 2002. After the death of 32 more in 2003, tests established the cause as anthrax. This is about 2% of the 4,208 zebras in the park,” he told the parliamentary tourism, trade and industry committee.

Ayumu said the last death was recorded on April 17.

“The situation is under control. Anthrax is on the decline. The death of hippos and zebras will soon stop,” he said.

Ayumu said the inter-ministerial task force established to contain the epidemic was doing well. He thanked the MPs for passing a sh100m supplementary budget for the task.

Ayumu, however, said they were still trying to get the money, which the finance ministry had given the agriculture ministry instead of channelling it to the task force.

Damian Akankwasa, a Uganda Wildlife Authority director, attributed the spread of anthrax to prolonged drought.

“Anthrax is caused by bacillus anthracic, a bacterium that does not have a specific origin. It lives anywhere and thrives in warm-blooded animals,” he said.

He was responding to queries on the possibility of anthrax spreading to other parts of the country.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});