Veterinary authorities have urged the public to report any dead animals for examination and refrain from consuming unknown meat following an anthrax outbreak in Gonarezhou National Park.
Dr. Krammer Manyetu, head of Veterinary Services in Masvingo, encouraged people to purchase meat from licensed butchers and not from street vendors.
He indicated that that 55,000 cattle in areas such as Bikita, Zaka, and Masvingo have already been vaccinated to curb the spread of the disease.
The outbreak, which has claimed the lives of 80 animals, including elephants, hippos, and buffaloes, was confirmed after ZimParks and Veterinary Services launched an investigation. Tests conducted at the Victoria Falls Wildlife Laboratory revealed anthrax as the cause of death. Efforts to vaccinate 80,000 cattle in surrounding areas are ongoing to prevent further spread of the disease, which poses risks to both livestock and humans.
