Lesotho - 3 new outbreaks of Anthrax in cattle in villages, Maseru (OIE, May 21, 2019)

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[TD="width: *, align: left"] Anthrax,
Lesotho
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[TD="class: topbigtabletitle27"]Information received on 21/05/2019 from Dr Gerard Relebohile Mahloane, Director General of Veterinary Services, Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Maseru, Lesotho[/TD]
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[TD] Summary
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Report type[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Immediate notification[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Date of start of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]12/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Date of confirmation of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]18/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Report date[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]21/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Date submitted to OIE[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]21/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Reason for notification[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Recurrence of a listed disease[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Date of previous occurrence[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]10/05/2016[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Manifestation of disease[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Clinical disease[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Causal agent[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Bacillus anthracis[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]Nature of diagnosis[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Clinical, Laboratory (basic)[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th, width: 10%"]This event pertains to[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]a defined zone within the country[/TD]
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[TD] New outbreaks (3)
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left, align: left"]Outbreak 1[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Mazenod, Ha-Tseka, Ha-Tseka, Maseru[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Date of start of the outbreak[/TD]
[TD]12/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Outbreak status[/TD]
[TD]Continuing (or date resolved not provided)[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Epidemiological unit[/TD]
[TD]Village[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Affected animals[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Susceptible[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Cases[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Deaths[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Killed and disposed of[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Slaughtered[/TD]
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[TD]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]83[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]21[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]21[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left, align: left"]Outbreak 2[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Mazenod, Ha-Teko, Maseru[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Date of start of the outbreak[/TD]
[TD]17/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Outbreak status[/TD]
[TD]Continuing (or date resolved not provided)[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Epidemiological unit[/TD]
[TD]Village[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Affected animals[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Susceptible[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Cases[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Deaths[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Killed and disposed of[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Slaughtered[/TD]
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[TD]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]16[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]2[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]2[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left, align: left"]Outbreak 3[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Mazenod, Ha-Au, Maseru[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Date of start of the outbreak[/TD]
[TD]18/05/2019[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Outbreak status[/TD]
[TD]Continuing (or date resolved not provided)[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Epidemiological unit[/TD]
[TD]Village[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Affected animals[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Susceptible[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Cases[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Deaths[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Killed and disposed of[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Slaughtered[/TD]
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[TD]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]7[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]1[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]1[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left, align: left"]Summary of outbreaks[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Total outbreaks: 3[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Total animals affected[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Susceptible[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Cases[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Deaths[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Killed and disposed of[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Slaughtered[/TD]
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[TD]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]106[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]0[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Outbreak statistics[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Apparent morbidity rate[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Apparent mortality rate[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Apparent case fatality rate[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_center last"]Proportion susceptible animals lost*[/TD]
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[TD]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]22.64%[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]22.64%[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]100.00%[/TD]
[TD="class: ta_right"]22.64%[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left, colspan: 2"]*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter[/TD]
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[TD] Epidemiology
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection[/TD]
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• Contact with infected animal(s) at grazing/watering

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[TD] Control measures
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Measures applied[/TD]
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• Movement control inside the country
• Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone
• Quarantine
• Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste
• Zoning
• Disinfection
• Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
• No treatment of affected animals

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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Measures to be applied[/TD]
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• Vaccination in response to the outbreak (s)

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[TD] Diagnostic test results
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[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Laboratory name and type[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Species[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Test[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left"]Test date[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer_th ta_left last"]Result[/TD]
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[TD="class: filtrer"]Maseru Central Veterinary Laboratory (National laboratory)[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer"]Cattle[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer"]bacteriological examination[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer"]18/05/2019[/TD]
[TD="class: filtrer cb-centree last"]Positive[/TD]
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[TD] Future Reporting
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[TD="class: filtrer"]The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.[/TD]
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http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/w...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=30512

 

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Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 22: 27 May - 02 June 2019

Anthrax Lesotho
20 Cases
0 Deaths
0% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Ministry of Health in Lesotho has reported a probable outbreak
of anthrax in humans in the outskirts of Maseru, the capital city.
The event was initially detected on 14 May 2019 through an event -
based surveillance system that reported unusual animal deaths in Ha
Tseka village, followed by human cases. Preliminary epidemiologic
investigations conducted from 15 - 23 May 2019 identified 72 people
in four villages who were exposed to carcasses of, and/or sick cattle.
Of the 72 people, 20 reportedly developed signs and symptoms that
include blisters on the hands and arms, swelling of the arms, diarrhoea
and abdominal pain, headache, chest pains and poor appetite. No deaths
have been reported to date. Of three samples obtained from the initial
cases, one identified a bacillus bacterium, which was susceptible to
only one out of nine commonly used antibiotics in Lesotho. However,
no confirmatory test was performed due to inadequacies in diagnostic
capacity.

At the same time, animal health investigations carried out by the
veterinary authorities indicated that the outbreak in animals started
on 28 April 2019 when the first cow died in Ha Tseka, and the carcass
was reportedly consumed. A total of 28 cattle has been confirmed dead
in four villages, namely Ha Tseka, Ha Teko, Ha Au and Ha Motheo.

Four carcasses were found in the community. The animals reportedly
manifested the following symptoms and signs: failure to stand, bloated
abdomen, swelling of the legs, bleeding from openings (nose, mouth
and anus), enlarge spleen and lungs, etc. Specimens obtained from two
of the 28 animals confirmed Bacillus anthracis as the causative agent.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security declared an
outbreak of anthrax in animals on 18 May 2019.

Further investigations (both public and animal health) are ongoing and
updates will be provided as more information comes in.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

A joint response operation is being undertaken by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food Security (Livestock Department)
and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the District
Disaster Management Team, under the leadership of the District
Administrator. Two coordination meetings have been held to date.
Active surveillance has been heightened in all health facilities to
ensure early detection of suspected human cases. Active case
search is ongoing in the affected communities, including informal
reporting by the media, community leaders, village health workers
and the general public.

The WHO Country Office is in the process of procuring the required
laboratory reagents to support confirmation of suspected cases.

WHO is also providing medicines, decontamination materials,
communication materials, logistical support, and operational funds
for the response.

Post-exposure prophylaxis using amoxicillin has been administered
to the people exposed to the dead/sick animals while those with
signs and symptoms being treated with antibiotics (cotrimoxazole)
based on the laboratory susceptibility test. Personal protective
equipment has been provided to health workers to prevent exposure
to the disease while supervising disposal of dead animals.

Preparations are ongoing to carry out mass animal vaccination against anthrax
within a 10-km radius, beginning 3 June 2019. FAO donated the anthrax vaccines
(Blanthrax).

Public awareness and community engagement activities are ongoing, including
press conference, radio and TV programmes. Information about the outbreak has
been shared with neighbouring South Africa through the cross-border disease
surveillance committees.

The World Bank-funded Southern Africa TB Health Systems Strengthening project
also provided transport to support the response.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Health authorities in Lesotho have reported a probable outbreak of human anthrax in the
outskirts of Maseru, following an epizootic declared by the animal health authorities. The
affected areas lie within a known and well defined ?anthrax belt? that covers a small portion
of Berea, Maseru and Mafeteng districts. Lesotho experienced its most serious anthrax
outbreak in 2008, where nearly 2 000 animals died, with one human death and more
than 30 human cases. In the past five years, smaller anthrax outbreaks have occurred in
animals, with no human cases detected.

Some of the major challenges being experienced in response to the current outbreak
include effective and safe disposal of dead animals and decontamination of the sites,
dissuasion of communities from handling and consuming sick and dead animals, as
well as appropriate public health laboratory diagnostic capacity. These areas are being
collectively addressed by the national authorities and partners.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325086/OEW22-270502062019.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/publications/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-22-27-may-02-june-2019