Authorities in Zambia have issued a stern warning to residents in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area, Muchinga province, to refrain from eating or handling meat from wildlife that has died suddenly or from unknown causes. The advisory follows an anthrax outbreak that has claimed the lives of dozens of wild animals, including 46 hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes and one crocodile since July.
A disaster management agency official confirmed that 12 people had been infected with anthrax after consuming meat from dead wildlife. The infected individuals are currently receiving treatment, but no human deaths have been reported so far.
In response, the unit has suspended hunting in the affected area until the extent of the disease and associated risks can be fully assessed. The public has also been urged to report any cases of sudden animal deaths and to avoid handling or selling meat from suspected carcasses.
Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is endemic to Zambia but human fatalities are rare. The country experienced an unprecedented outbreak in 2023 that killed four people and spread to nine of ten provinces. A similar large‑scale outbreak in 2011 resulted in more than 500 cases and five deaths after people consumed infected hippo meat.
The unit’s national coordinator, Norman Chipakupaku, highlighted the tragic reality that local communities depend on wild game for food, making the situation particularly dire. He urged the public to exercise caution and to report any suspicious animal deaths promptly.
Surveillance and laboratory investigations are ongoing to determine the full geographical reach of the outbreak and to guide further public health measures.
