WINDHOEK, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Environment Ministry confirmed Monday that the anthrax outbreak in the west part of Bwabwata National Park in the Kavango East Region has been contained.
The anthrax outbreak in the country which was detected last year in October in one of the country's biggest game parks killed around 120 hippopotamuses and 25 buffaloes, amongst others.
The Environment Ministry, Public Relations officer, Romeo Muyunda in a statement said the Anthrax Containment Team which included the environment, health and agriculture ministries had contained the situation.
"During the outbreak, no clinical cases of anthrax were detected in human and livestock. The Health Ministry put 724 people on prophylaxis treatment against anthrax mainly in the Mukwe Constituency as a precautionary measure," said Muyunda.
According to Muyunda, the Agriculture Ministry also managed to vaccinate a total of 216 wild animals while 3,000 cattle and 1,010 goats were also vaccinated.
Muyunda meanwhile said to avoid future outbreaks, the Regional Containment Team resolved that a National Standard Operating Procedure or Action Plan for the containment of anthrax outbreaks should be developed.
