Deadly anthrax outbreak in Congo’s Virunga National Park has claimed the lives of at least 50 hippos, with officials warning locals to boil water and avoid the contaminated areas as carcasses continue to float downstream.
Key Takeaways
- At least 50 hippos and several buffalo have died from anthrax poisoning in Congo’s Virunga National Park, home to approximately 1,200 hippos
- Park director Emmanuel De Merode confirmed the outbreak, noting severe challenges in removing carcasses due to lack of equipment and access
- Officials warned local communities to avoid wildlife and boil water before consumption to prevent human infection
- Dead hippos have been found floating in the Ishasha River and Lake Edward, raising concerns about the outbreak spreading
- Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria that can lie dormant in soil for decades before being exposed during dry seasons
Deadly Outbreak Confirmed in Congo’s Wildlife Haven
A devastating anthrax outbreak has struck Congo’s Virunga National Park, killing at least 50 hippos and several buffalo in what conservation officials are calling a significant blow to wildlife in the region. Park director Emmanuel De Merode confirmed the deaths Tuesday after tests revealed anthrax poisoning as the cause. The management of this crisis has been severely hampered by the lack of heavy equipment needed to properly dispose of the massive carcasses, as well as limited access to affected areas due to ongoing security concerns in the region, which has been plagued by militia activity for decades.
“Tests confirmed anthrax poisoning,” said Virunga Park director Emmanuel De Merode, adding that “it’s difficult due to lack of access and logistics,” when discussing the challenge of removing the carcasses from the affected areas of the park.
Understanding the Anthrax Threat
Anthrax outbreaks among wildlife populations, while alarming, are not uncommon in certain regions of Africa. The deadly disease is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacteria that can remain dormant in soil for decades before environmental conditions trigger its activation. Conservation experts believe that lower water levels may have exposed previously dormant anthrax spores in the soil, which were then ingested by hippos as they grazed. Once infected, the animals typically die quickly, with their carcasses further contaminating water sources and surrounding areas, creating a vicious cycle of infection.
“Anthrax infection in wildlife is actually fairly common,” said Melissa Marx, an assistant professor of international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who has studied anthrax outbreaks in Zambia. “The thing about anthrax outbreaks is that the animal outbreaks are predictable — and in Zambia they’re seasonal. They happen in the dry season.”
Although it does happen, and has happened in the past, the loss is still devastating. “The deaths represent a major loss for the park, which has been working to increase the number of hippos in recent decades after poaching and war reduced the population from over 20,000 to a few hundred by 2006. The park now holds about 1,200 hippos.” according to Reuters.
Community Impact and Public Safety Concerns
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation has issued urgent warnings to communities surrounding the park, advising residents to avoid coming into contact with wildlife and to boil water before consumption. This precaution is critical as anthrax can spread to humans through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated meat and water. Officials are particularly concerned as hippo carcasses have been spotted floating downstream into Lake Edward, potentially widening the contamination zone and increasing human exposure risk.
“There are more than 25 hippopotamus bodies floating in the waters of the lake, from Kagezi to Nyakakoma,” Thomas Kambale, a civil society leader in Nyakakoma, told Reuters. This alarming observation highlights the expanding reach of the contamination, as the dead animals drift from the initial outbreak location deeper into populated watersheds.
Historical Context and Future Concerns
This outbreak bears alarming similarities to previous anthrax events in the region. In 2004, Uganda experienced a devastating anthrax outbreak that killed approximately 200 hippos and at least 10 people. More recently, in Zambia’s 2011 outbreak, at least 85 hippos died along the South Luangwa River, resulting in over 500 human anthrax cases with multiple fatalities. These historical events underscore the deadly potential when anthrax spreads from wildlife to human populations, particularly in areas where food insecurity might lead desperate communities to consume meat from animals that died of unknown causes.
Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has faced numerous challenges beyond disease outbreaks. The park is known for its exceptional biodiversity but has been caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts for decades. Park rangers regularly risk their lives protecting the park’s wildlife from poachers and armed militia groups. This current anthrax outbreak represents yet another challenge for a park already struggling to maintain its conservation mission under difficult circumstances.
