Bawku West moves to control anthrax in Widnaba
The Bawku West District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region has embarked on a vaccination exercise against anthrax in the Widnaba community and its environs.
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So far, 80 people have been vaccinated.
The mass vaccination follows the death of two persons in the area after they allegedly consumed meat from cattle suspected to have been infected with the anthrax disease.
The District Director of Health, Mr Benjamin Aggrey, who disclosed this in an interview, said those vaccinated against the disease included close family relations of the deceased persons.
He further indicated that the situation had been brought under control as no further casualties had been recorded.
"We are seriously monitoring the situation on the ground and the disease is being contained. Every day we sensitise the people to how best to dispose of meat that has not been examined by the veterinary officials or that is unwholesome for consumption," Mr Aggrey stressed.
Symptoms
Mr Aggrey said after the two persons and others ate the meat, they exhibited symptoms of anthrax.
The director noted that investigations revealed that the two persons were healthy prior to the consumption of the carcasses.
He explained that after holding sensitisation programmes in the community, some of the residents voluntarily buried the meat they also had smoked to consume.
Tests
The Secretary of the Upper East Region branch of the Veterinary Medical Technicians Association of Ghana (VEMTAG), Mr Isaac Mbobo, said laboratory tests on blood samples from one of the animals brought from the Widnaba area to Bolgatanga, however, proved negative.
According to him, "we are also embarking on an educational campaign to sensitise the people to know how to safeguard themselves against such diseases".
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects most animals. It can be transmitted through contact with infected meat. Effective vaccines against anthrax are available, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms of the disease in humans include gastro intestinal infections, pneumonia,vomiting of blood, severe diarrhoea and loss of appetite.