By: James Kamara-Manneh
It is unclear as to when the ban will be lifted on the movement of cattle, goats and sheep along the Sierra Leone-Liberia borders.
This ban came as a result of the incident of the unknown cause of death of 36 cows along the Foya-Mendekorma at Kelima Bendu Town four miles from the Kailahun district.
Though the cause of death is under investigation, the government has instituted a temporary-strict ban on the movement of meat and meat production from Liberia to Sierra Leone. The restrictions will take further effect within the boundaries ofKailahun, Kenema and Pujehun districts.
Therefore, a temporary closure has been placed on all livestock markets in the above-named districts. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with its partners has initiated a surveillance measure in various slaughterhouses in the three districts to track symptoms of anthrax disease.
Last year the Government of Liberia reported an outbreak of the deadly anthrax pathogen in northern Sierra Leone, with a death toll of well over 200 livestock and only a few humans infected.
The deaths were in Port Loko District, Northwestern region of Sierra Leone which is 12 hours (730.9 km) away from the national capital Monrovia but 269 km from Grand Cape Mount County.
That was the first outbreak of anthrax among animals to be reported in Sierra Leone in nearly 30 years. With the Mano River Union reeling from one biological scourge after another since Ebola, the sudden discovery of anthrax in the subregion cannot be passed off as an animal-only pandemic.
Easily found in nature, Anthrax spores can be produced in a lab and can last for a long time in the environment. It makes a good weapon because it can be released quietly and without anyone knowing. The microscopic spores could be put into powders, sprays, food, and water. Because they are so small, they may not be visible to natural eyesight, smell, or taste.
Given its presence in animals that are edible by humans, especially livestock, the health risks are particularly concerning. This is why the Liberian Ministry of Health placed a temporary ban on the importation of all livestock from Sierra Leone to Liberia.