The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has as on May 16th 2022 confirmed the death of 91 herds of cattle, 53 goats , and 79 sheep bringing a total of 223 livestock.

The Apex Newspaper reveals that the death of these animals follows the outbreak of Anthrax disease in the Portloko Region of the country.

Dr. Abu Bakarr Karin Minister of Agriculture and Forestry at an emergency news conference held at Youyi Building, Brookfields in Freetown.

” On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, I wish to take this opportunity to inform you that Anthrax in the Portloko District in the North-Western Region of the country,”
Minister Abu Bakarr Karim read.

According to the Minister, in Sierra Leone Anthrax falls under the category of re-emerging zoonotic affecting both animals and humans) disease with the last reported outbreak in 1994.

“The outbreak of Anthrax has so far been detected in the District of Port Loko to date a total of 91 heads of cattle, 53 goats, and 79 sheep in Kamasondo and Gbakiloko,” he said

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis.

Anthrax can be naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. Since Zoonotic humans can also be infected.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health have under one health platform encouraged Sierra Leoneans to report any sign of sick animals and urged everyone to avoid treating sick animals or eating their products.