The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Ibanda District has imposed a one-month temporary closure of slaughter activities and livestock movement in Ibanda Municipality and Ibanda South Constituency in order to curb Anthrax outbreak in both humans and livestock.

According to a letter dated January 17, 2024, forwarded by Kweyamba Ruhemba to the District Authorities, the Chief Administrative Officer said that the district has been getting sporadic cases of Anthrax disease in humans suspected to have handled meat from infected dead animals.

The letter stipulated that early this month, one person from Mabonwa parish, Rukiri sub-county, tested positive, and currently, 12 people from Kakoma are showing signs.

“It’s on this background that the District leadership has urgently passed on guidelines to protect human beings and livestock against the deadly disease,” part of the letter read.

According to the letter, all meat handlers in the district will be registered. They have been authorized to have a health certificate before they handle meat.

“All cattle traders in the district have been urged to have a Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries license in order to be allowed to buy and sell animals,” the letter read.

“A ring vaccination of all suspected animal species in areas of Keihangara subcounty, Bisheshe division, Rukiri subcounty, and Kagongo division will be carried out,” the letter emphasized.

The first cases in the district were confirmed in November 2023 in Rugaaga 1 and Rugaaga IV villages of Rugaaga parish, Keihangara subcounty, where nine individuals who got involved in slaughtering a dead cow were admitted to the Uganda Martyrs Hospital in Ibanda district, and six individuals tested positive.