Anthrax kills over 150 wildebeest in Selela corridor

MARC NKWAME in Arusha

NEARLY 90 wildebeests and 15 gazelles have died in the wildlife corridor in Selela section of Monduli due to an outbreak of anthrax in the district.

Monduli District Commissioner Idd Kimanta has confirmed the epidemic, telling the Arusha regional Security Committee here that so far the number accounts for the carcasses that have been discovered and it is believed that the damage is more severe.

“Chances are that more wildebeests could have been infected since the animals move around fast and in large groups, there is the need to check at the nearby game parks like Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro,” pointed out DC Kimanta.

He explained that samples of flesh from the dead animals were taken to the Chief Chemist, with the results confirming that the deaths were due to anthrax.

The District Livestock Officer, Mr Salum Omar has also added that, the disease has decimated domestic animals including cattle, sheep and goats, with 60 of them already dead, bringing to 165 the total number of beasts lost to the anthrax outbreak.

“We are taking initiatives to vaccinate the remaining species of livestock against the disease, but people should take caution not to eat meat from dead animals or even touch their carcasses,” said Mr Omar.

Anthrax seems to be a strange phenomenon in the area, “This is the first ever anthrax outbreak in history, but even worse is the fact that the Maasai pastoralists whose livestock have perished, are eating the dead animals, risking contracting the deadly disease,” stated Selela Village Chairman, Julius Loiboseki.

The Ward Councillor, Mr Cuthbert Meela said the animals started dying late last week, noting that the infections could continue spreading unless the authorities act swiftly to prevent infections.