Experts call for vaccination of animals to reduce anthrax cases

Livestock keepers have been urged to vaccinate their animals every six months to reduce incidences of anthrax.

Dr Hadija Chepkorir, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Zoonotic Disease Unit, said the bacterial disease is rampant during the rainy seasons but can also occur during dry spells when animals graze close to the ground.

Kenya was among five countries in the East and Southern Africa that had anthrax outbreaks last year.

There were three human deaths and 1,100 cases of anthrax infections in animals reported in Kenya in 2023 up from 200 cases in 2022.

To reduce frequency of anthrax, the government has urged farmers to vaccinate twice a year, before the short and the long rains when the disease is prevalent.

Chepkorir said nine counties have been mapped out as potential hotspots this rainy season.

She advised farmers to report prevalence and avoid slaughtering and consuming sickly animals.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations said it has released Sh11 million to heighten surveillance and enhance communication.

FAO urged farmers to insure their high value animals to minimise losses.

In 2023, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe experienced anthrax outbreaks.

According to the World Health Organisation, these outbreaks resulted in 1,166 suspected cases and 37 confirmed cases across the region, where anthrax is endemic and outbreaks occur seasonally.

The last anthrax outbreak in Kenya, which had unusual mortality, was reported in Lake Nakuru National Park between March 29 and April 7, 2019.

Some 134 buffaloes died.

The population at risk then was 4,100 African (Cape) buffaloes.

Dr Jane Njuguna from the Directorate of Veterinary Services said the rifeness of human anthrax in Kenya is linked to animals, particularly through consumption or contact with anthrax-infected carcasses.

Health communication researchers advocate for behaviour change communication as a way of increasing knowledge, stimulating dialogue, promoting attitude change and reducing stigma.

Behaviour change is an intervention measure across a wide range of health problems.