By: Haja Hawa Koroma
On Monday 16th May 2022, The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and One Health Partners in collaboration with the Ministry of Information held a press conference on reports of an outbreak of Anthrax disease, a disease that is commonly found among animals (livestock).
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Amb Abu Bakarr Karim, there has been a record of an outbreak in Port Loko District in the North-Western Region of Sierra Leone.
Anthrax has proven to be a serious infectious disease that commonly affects domestic and wild animals, the Minister added. He further stated that, people gets sick with the Anthrax disease when they get in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products and the disease can cause severe illness in both humans and animals, but the good news is, it is a treatable disease.
The minister mentioned that, the Government is evaluating its options to institute restrictions on the production, processing and Marketing of livestock and livestock products, mainly cattle, sheep and Goats as they are the commonly consumed livestock’s.
The disease is not contagious, thus people cannot contact the disease through another person, and it can only be contacted through an animal that has been contaminated. It makes both human and animals get sick and if not treated quickly range from not too serious to very serious and even death.
One way a person can get the anthrax disease from an animal is through an opening in skin, like a cut, scrape or sore. Another way is through the mouth by eating or drinking something with anthrax or by touching something that has anthrax and then touching your mouth.
The length of time from when anthrax enters a person’s body to when that person starts to show signs and symptoms of anthrax ranges from one day to two months. One of the most common types of anthrax in people is through the skin.
The most common signs and symptoms of anthrax disease are, an itchy bump that looks like an insect bite that quickly changes into a painless sore with a black center, this is mostly seen on the face, neck, arms or hands and also a swelling around the sore.
Other signs and symptoms of anthrax contracted through the mouth are, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, headache, sore or harsh throat and difficulty swallowing, swollen neck, red face and eyes, fainting and swelling of stomach.
There are different ways that this disease can spread, but the main cause is from animals with the disease, therefore, it is advisable that you do not touch or eat an animal that is dead without knowing the cause of death. Considering the fact that a lot of people tends to eat dead animals without knowing the cause of dead, thinking that there is nothing that a cooked and well peppered food cannot solve, well the anthrax disease can withstand any kind of temperature as it can live for more than a 100 years, so even if the animal is boiled or cooked in the highest temperature possible, a person can still contract the disease upon consumption of the contaminated animal.
In order to stop the spread of the disease, people are encouraged to avoid touching or eating dead animals or animals that look sick. And are also advised not to touch them or get any form of contact with them, they should always ensure to wash hands and arms with soap and water immediately after any contact with an animal. People must also ensure to contact the Ministry of Agriculture or call the Emergency toll free line 117 to report the unexplained death and sickness of animals in their communities and also for the disposition of these animals as the ministry has well trained people that can dispose the remains of these animals to avoid the spread of the disease.
People are also encouraged to call 117 if they feel any of the signs and symptoms that have been aforementioned cause getting an early care and treatment can get you a chance at healing quickly and leaves you with fewer problems.
The minister stated that as of now no human case has been confirmed, nevertheless, they are putting structures in place so as to send workers to different districts and villages to conduct tests, and to station them at villages they might record confirmed cases in order to attack the disease beforehand. He added that they are working with the Office of the National Security in order to enforce security measures so as to avoid the spread of the disease.
The minister emphasized that in the meantime, they wish to advise all not to try and administer treatment on any sick animals or eat them or their products like cow milk, cow butter etc so as to be on the safer side.
