One person has died of a suspected anthrax outbreak in the Binduri district of the Upper East Region, the regional health directorate has said.
The directorate said the person died after consuming the carcass of a cow believed to be infected with the viral disease.
In a statement released Friday (2 June), the regional director of health services, Dr Emmanuel Dzotsi, said eleven persons who are believed to have also consumed carcasses of dead cattle, are being contact-traced.
Dr Dzotsi has, therefore, directed all districts, particularly those sharing borders with Binduri, to be on high alert and intensify surveillance activities for the containment of the disease.
“On June 1, 2023, the Regional Health Directorate received notification of two suspected cases of anthrax with one death in Binduri District following the consumption of dead cattle. In all, four cattle have died in the affected community. So far, 11 suspected cases have been identified, and contact-tracing efforts are underway in the affected community.
All districts are by this circular required to be on high alert, and surveillance activities for anthrax should be intensified.” Dr Dzotsi said.
Dr Dzotsi, in the statement, also directed all units of the service to intensify risk communication efforts in all communities.
He also urged residents to work closely with the veterinary services in each district for holistic control of the disease.
Reporting by Senyalah Castro in the Upper East Region
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