Two die from Anthrax infection in Narok

Narok,

Monday September 18, 2023

KNA by Ann Salaton

Two people died while other eight were left fighting for their dear lives after they ate meat infected by Anthrax at Endonyo Rasha area in Narok South Sub County.

The sub county veterinary officer Matthew Nchoko said the two deceased were male aged 42 and 24 years old, who had eaten carcasses of a dead sheep.

Nchoko confirmed that the eight victims who had been rushed to Ngosuani Health Centre were treated and discharged.

He warned the public against consuming meat that is not properly inspected and cooked to avoid causing such incidents.

“You should not eat meat from dead animals that are not properly inspected. The carcasses of dead livestock should be disposed of by burying in deep holes to avoid infecting other animals or people,” he said.

Anthrax, he said, manifests in three forms namely respiratory form, digestive or as a sore that forms a black spot at the center.

The veterinary doctor observed that the respiratory form is more fatal to humans as it causes difficulties in breathing while the digestive form causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pains.

“The disease is treatable if the patients are rushed to the hospital for treatment immediately they start developing the symptoms,” he said.

He said plans are underway to vaccinate all the livestock in the area against the disease and warned residents against touching or eating any dead livestock.

“The county government is putting in place measures to vaccinate all the livestock in the area, however, people should take personal caution and avoid eating or touching any dead animal,” he said.

The disease could have been caused by the presence of hundreds of wild animals that graze freely in the company of livestock, as the area borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The people in the sub county are pastoralists who depend on their livestock for survival.

Courtesy; KNA