ANTHRAX, EQUINE, LIVESTOCK - ETHIOPIA: ADDIS ABABA

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A ProMED-mail post



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International Society for Infectious Diseases

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Date: 4 Sep 2010

From: Merritt Clifton [edited]





Just thought I'd drop a line from Addis Ababa, where I have spent the

past several days visiting animal welfare projects by day and

canvassing the city dog and cat population by night, hiking up and

down shantytown alleys where it is allegedly too dangerous to go.



Much of what I'm seeing is no surprise -- it's the developing world

everywhere -- but I was surprised yesterday [3 Sep 2010] at the

volume and ubiquitousness of anthrax among the workloads of the

Brooke Hospital for Animals and the Donkey Sanctuary, each of which

operates several programs in different parts of the country.



Right here in Addis Ababa, anthrax is almost as commonly seen as the

routine injuries to donkeys from traffic, overloading, and beating.

The Donkey Sanctuary vets showed me slides of all of their most

interesting cases from the past 2 years, including anthrax, tetanus,

hyena bites (astonishingly common), and anthrax, anthrax, and more anthrax.



The Brooke is really pushing vaccination at their outposts in the

boonies. The Donkey Sanctuary in Addis Ababa is mainly treating

donkeys who come in from the boonies, but is pushing vaccination at

their outlying clinics. As yet, though, the volume of cases suggests

that a negligible percentage of the donkey population has been vaccinated.



Probably the cattle, goats, and sheep are all a lot more vulnerable

than the donkeys. Overall, Ethiopia appears to have a hell of a

problem, though I was told that as bad as it is now, it used to be worse.



I can't statistically quantify anthrax in Ethiopia now vs. any point

in the past, but I can testify firsthand to the present level of

concern among the Brooke Hospital and Donkey Sanctuary veterinarians.

The Brooke head vet in Ethiopia has been in her position for about 2

years, and the Donkey Sanctuary clinic I visited has been operating

for about 2 years.



--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, Animal People

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236







[Anthrax is hyper-enzootic in Ethiopia. During just 2006 through

2008, there were 2254, 775, and 430 outbreaks involving all livestock

species. In 2008 alone, this involved 3879 cattle, 3 camels, 8253

sheep and goats, and 723 horses, and an unstated number of human

cases. Vaccination numbers are uncertain. It is a ghastly situation.

If any of our Ethiopian members or others with relevant experience in

that country would care to comment, it would be welcomed.



Our thanks to Merritt for this eyewitness account from Addis. For a

map of Ethiopia showing Addis Ababa, go to:

. - Mod MHJ]



[see also:

2002

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Anthrax, human, animal - Ethiopia (Mursiland) 20021211.6036

Anthrax, livestock - Ethiopia (Oromiya Region) (02) 20020712.4738

Anthrax, livestock - Ethiopia (Oromiya Region) 20020708.4701

2000

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Anthrax, suspected - Ethiopia (Afar): confirmed 20000721.1210

Anthrax, suspected - Ethiopia (Afar) (03) 20000718.1188

Anthrax, suspected - Ethiopia (Afar) (02) 20000518.0779

Anthrax, suspected - Ethiopia (Afar) 20000513.0737

1999

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Anthrax, wildlife - Ethiopia 19991201.2111]

......................................mhj/msp/dk



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