An anthrax outbreak in a park in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been killing hippopotamuses, threatening vulnerable wildlife and raising concerns about human exposure to the disease.<\/p>\n
The outbreak at Virunga National Park<\/a> \u2014 Africa\u2019s oldest national park \u2014 has killed 30 hippopotamuses since September, when observers first started noticing suspicious carcasses, Laura Parker, who leads the park\u2019s conservation programs, said in an email on Tuesday. The cause of the animals\u2019 deaths, and the outbreak, has since been confirmed by laboratory analyses, she noted.<\/p>\n This is the second outbreak of anthrax in the park since last year, and it comes as Congo is contending with an Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 4,800 people since May and strained the country\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n Doctors who have analyzed anthrax outbreaks in the region say that the disease represents a significant public health challenge<\/a>, intersecting with issues like food insecurity, conflict and poverty, and disproportionately affecting rural populations with limited access to health care.<\/p>\n Park officials have been raising awareness among local communities to ensure people do not touch or consume meat from any affected carcasses and report any such finds to the authorities, Ms. Parker said.<\/p>\n \u201cVirunga\u2019s response is focused on surveillance, safe carcass management and reducing risks to both wildlife and people. Teams are monitoring the affected area, documenting new mortalities and coordinating the safe handling and disposal of carcasses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by a bacterium found naturally in soil around the world. It often affects livestock and wild animals that can become infected when they breathe in, eat or drink spores in contaminated soil, plants or water. The spores can lie dormant in soil for years or decades, so outbreaks recur in areas where they are already in the environment, as in the national park.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s anthrax outbreak killed about 65 hippos in the park and affected people in the region<\/a>. Human exposure to anthrax is most commonly linked to contact with infected animals, and community outreach is vital to preventing deaths or illness in people, public health experts say.<\/p>\n Anthrax outbreaks are linked to unusual climatic conditions, including prolonged dry periods, and a lack of rain may be to blame for the latest episodes of the disease, park officials surmise. There has been significant rainfall of late and no new cases confirmed in two weeks, so they are cautiously optimistic, but monitoring protocols continue, Ms. Parker said.<\/p>\n