Anthrax Outbreak In Zambia Kills 60 Wild Animals, Sickens 12 People

An anthrax outbreak in a remote wildlife reserve in northern Zambia has killed 60 wild animals since July and left a dozen people infected after they ate meat from the dead carcasses, according to Zambia's Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the government body that coordinates Zambia's response to disasters and health emergencies.

The DMMU's national coordinator, Norman Chipakupaku, confirmed the outbreak in a statement reported on September 12, 2026, saying anthrax had been confirmed only in the preceding days.

The authorities said the animal deaths were recorded in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area, a wildlife reserve in Mpika district, Muchinga province.

What Has Happened So Far

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit said the animal deaths include 46 hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes and one crocodile.

The 12 people who fell ill are receiving treatment, and no deaths have been reported among them, according to Chipakupaku.

The outbreak was confirmed only in recent days after veterinary and wildlife officers investigated unexplained animal deaths.

Initial tests on some of the hippos were negative, while authorities also investigated whether contamination of the river could have been responsible before further testing confirmed anthrax.

The people who became infected had eaten meat from animals that had died in the affected area.

Why People Are Getting Sick From Dead Animals

Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that can form spores and survive in the environment for long periods.

The disease can infect grazing animals and other mammals.

People can become infected by handling infected animals or contaminated animal products, or by eating meat from an infected carcass.

It does not normally spread from person to person.

The risk is particularly high when people handle or consume animals that have died suddenly from an unknown cause, because the carcass and animal products may be contaminated with anthrax spores.

The disease is not new to Zambia.

In 2023, the World Health Organization reported a major anthrax outbreak that eventually affected nine of Zambia's 10 provinces.

As of November 20, 2023, WHO reported 684 suspected human cases and four deaths. The outbreak was linked to both domestic and wild animals, including hippos, and some human cases were associated with consuming meat from hippo carcasses.

The Government's Response

Zambia's government has deployed a multidisciplinary team to the affected area to investigate the outbreak and work out how far it has spread.

Zambia's Health Ministry is coordinating the response to the human cases.

Roadblocks have been set up around the affected area to stop potentially infected meat from being transported elsewhere and sold or eaten.

An aircraft has also been sent to the area to help collect additional samples and verify the number of animal deaths.

Hunting in the area has been temporarily suspended while authorities assess the geographical extent of the outbreak and the risks to communities.

Officials have warned that the number of animal deaths could still rise as surveillance continues.

What Is Still Unknown

It is not yet clear how the outbreak started, whether it is confined to the Munyamadzi area or has spread further, or how severe the human cases are.

Authorities are continuing investigations and surveillance to establish the full geographical extent of the outbreak.

For now, the response is focused on preventing potentially infected meat from leaving the affected area, identifying people who may have been exposed and determining whether additional animals or communities have been affected.

The outbreak also highlights the risk of consuming or handling wildlife that has died suddenly from an unexplained illness, particularly in communities where wild meat may become a source of food.

A Previous Anthrax Outbreak in Zambia

Zambia has experienced anthrax outbreaks before.

In 2023, WHO reported that human and animal anthrax cases had spread across nine of the country's 10 provinces. The outbreak included infections associated with people consuming meat from three dead hippos in Sinazongwe District.

By November 20, 2023, 684 suspected human cases and four deaths had been reported across 44 districts.

The latest outbreak is now being investigated as authorities work to establish how widely anthrax has spread in northern Zambia.