A potential anthrax epidemic has hit the Bawku West district of the Upper East Region, leading to two people dying so far and many others hospitalised.
The outbreak has lead to fears amongst residents, as cattle meat, which transmits the disease, is an ubiquitous fact of life there; and it’s difficult to spot infected meat.
The two dead so far include a young man and a middle aged woman, Starrfmonline reports.
Some sheep and cattle have also died from the disease, and at least 15 people have been hospitalised.
The Starr report notes that a team of veterinary officers have been vaccinating some of the animals belonging to families of those infected.
Anthrax is a bacterial infection contracted by consuming raw or undercooked infected meat. It manifests with sores appearing on the infected person’s body, and other symptoms include fever and chills, chest discomfort, headache, cough, extreme tiredness, nausea, shortness of breath, body aches, dizziness, sore throat, stomach pain and fainting among others.
A vaccine for the disease has been in existence for over two centuries.