One person has been reported dead from a suspected case of anthrax in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region.
The unfortunate incident occurred following the consumption of the carcass of an anthrax-infected cow, according to a press release issued by the Upper East Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service on Friday, June 2.
The press release stated that four cattle have succumbed to anthrax in a suburb of the Binduri district.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Emmanuel Dzotse and his team have swiftly initiated the process of tracing 11 other individuals suspected of consuming the carcass of the infected mammal.
“On June 1, 2023, the Regional Health Directorate received notification of two (2) suspected cases of anthrax with one death in Binduri District following the consumption of a dead cattle,” the release stated.
Dr Dzotse further reassured the public that samples from all suspected individuals would be taken for testing and treated with Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline, two commonly used antibiotics for anthrax treatment.
As a precautionary measure, all districts sharing boundaries with Binduri have been urged to remain vigilant and intensify surveillance activities.
The Regional Director of Health Services emphasized that his team would intensify risk communication about the disease and its prevention. He urged community members to refrain from consuming cattle carcasses without establishing the cause of death.
Additionally, Dr Dzotse encouraged cattle owners in all districts to seek veterinary assistance for comprehensive disease control, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to protect both human and animal health.