Guinea Bissau struggles with anthrax outbreak in humans, cattle

Anthrax

Jun 14, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – An anthrax outbreak in the small African country of Guinea Bissau has killed 4 people and sickened more than 80.

Thirteen patients have been hospitalized, according to a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) news release issued this month.

The outbreak is occurring in Oio region, which boasts some of the most intensive cattle herding operations in the country, an Oxfam America news story on May 5 noted. Some 120-plus cattle had died in the outbreak. Cattle herding is the chief economic engine of the Oio region, Oxfam said.

The OIE has made a grant to the country from its emergency fund to help pay for a large-scale vaccination campaign in Oio, which has more than 50,000 cattle, according to a news release from the organization.

Oxfam America estimated early in May that 400,000 doses of bovine vaccine would be required to control the outbreak, but that only 76,000 doses of the vaccine could be found in West Africa. The agency was assisting Guinea Bissau by purchasing vaccine and obtaining additional doses elsewhere.

By the end of May, Oxfam America reported that more than 13,000 cattle had been vaccinated.

The OIE, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are planning to provide support, according to Oxfam and OIE information.

Anthrax spreads among cattle and other ruminants through contaminated feed and soil, Oxfam said. People can contract intestinal anthrax by eating contaminated, undercooked meat. Touching infected animal tissues, being bitten by infected flies, or contacting contaminated materials may cause cutaneous anthrax. Inhalational anthrax results from inhalation of spores in contaminated areas.

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, occurs naturally and is widespread in the environment. An estimated 2,000 to 20,000 human cases occur globally each year, according to the CIDRAP overview of the disease. Anthrax can also be modified for use as a biological weapon.

See also:

OIE news release http://web.oie.int/eng/press/en_050609.htm

CIDRAP overview of anthrax
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/anthrax/biofacts/index.html

This week's top reads

  1. Vietnam reports H5N1 avian flu case with encephalitis

    Tests on respiratory samples were negative, but results were positive for the cerebrospinal fluid sample.

    Lisa Schnirring
    ICU monitors

  2. Studies detail high rates of long COVID among healthcare, dental workers

    The most common symptom reported by healthcare workers was fatigue.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    health worker in mask

  3. CIDRAP launches Vaccine Integrity Project to help safeguard US vaccine use

    The steering committee will make recommendations on how non-governmental groups can help ensure that vaccine use is evidence-based.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    MMR vaccine vial on table

  4. Tick-borne meat allergy may be related to urbanization in mid-Atlantic US

    The study identified open-space development and low population density as risk factors for Alpha-gal syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Lone star tick

  5. New agreement geared toward universal avian flu vaccine

    The mRNA vaccine targets all major clades of the H5 avian flu subtype.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  6. US measles cases climb higher, approach 900

    Thirty states have cases, and 83% of infections are part of outbreaks, the largest centered  in West Texas.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy with measles

  7. Quick takes: Mpox outbreak in Malawi, more H5N1 in Idaho and California dairy cows

    The cases in Malawi bring the number of African countries affected by mpox to 23.

    Lisa Schnirring

  8. USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry

    The Biden-era rule would have prevented the sale of raw chicken or turkey with certain levels or strains of Salmonella.

    Chris Dall
    Raw poultry in processing plant

  9. 'On the precipice of disaster': Measles may be endemic in 25 years if vaccine uptake stays low, model predicts

    A 10% decline in vaccine uptake could lead to 11.1 million cases of the highly contagious illness in that timeframe.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Measles virus

  10. Poll finds false measles claims gaining attention amid US outbreaks

    Though confidence in the vaccine remains high, KFF found that misinformation is sowing more doubts.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman scrolling on phone

Our underwriters