The government has dispatched a team of experts to Kanungu District to assess the extent of the anthrax outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of three people and affected animals in the area.
The State minister for Agriculture, incharge of Fisheries Hellen Adoa was responding to a concern raised Kinkizi west Mp James Kaberuka asking Government to send a team to assess the gravity of the health matter.
Andoa says that Cabinet is alive to the reports of anthrax outbreak and has already directed the agriculture and health ministries to dispatch a team of experts to Kanungu.
She also said that another team is being assembled from the headquarters to join them and one of the things they are going to start with, is to put a quarantine so that they can contain anthrax from spreading to other parts of the country.
The State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties Anifa Kawooya, confirmed that indeed the health officials are on ground and the ministry awaits a report from them.
“We are waiting for a report so that we can take a big team from the ministry and as of tomorrow [Wednesday 25 September 2024] and over the weekend, our Director for Health Services will be in Kanungu,” she said.
The Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, also Kinkizi east Mp Chris Baryomunsi, called for an inter-ministerial effort to fight the anthrax. “My request is to the Ministry of Agriculture.
We need vaccines to vaccinate the cattle that are not yet affected and also, the district has made the requisition for additional drugs to handle the problem.
Anthrax is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis found in soil. It affects animals but can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, or contaminated animal products.
