A Retrospective Surveillance Data Analysis Study on the Epidemiology of Anthrax Cases Among Livestock from 2019 to 2023 in Halaba Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Zinash W Michael, Zegeye Hailemariam and Kedir Yusuf Musa

Background: In Ethiopia, anthrax is the second most important zoonotic disease, next to rabies. The disease caused by gram- positive, non-motile bacteria known as bacillus anthracis. Data quantifying occurrence and distribution of animal anthrax in Halaba zone of Central Ethiopia region, Ethiopia, are limited. Thus, this study was conducted to describe the distribution of animal anthrax between 2019 and 2023 in Halaba zone.

Objective: To assess the magnitude and trend of anthrax in Halaba Zone from 2019-2023. Methods: A retrospective descriptive method of study was carried out. The trend and distributions of anthrax cases from 2019 to 2023 was analyzed by Animal, place and time and presented using graphs and tables.

Results: A total of 1199 cases of anthrax in animals and 375 animals that died due to anthrax were reported. The highest number of anthrax cases were reported in 2019 (n = 381), sharing 31.7% of the 5-year animal anthrax reported. However, the highest number of animal death due to anthrax (n = 118) was reported in 2019. The overall case fatality rate of anthrax was 31.2% (n = 375). The highest animal anthrax cases (n = 998; 83%) and deaths (n = 327; 87%) were recorded in Bovine. The highest cases of anthrax were registered in July (n = 378) and May (n = 197), while no anthrax case was reported during December. The highest and lowest number of animal death due to anthrax were reported during July (n = 119) and January (n = 4), respectively. The highest number of anthrax cases was reported in the long rainy season (n = 588; 49%) and short rainy season (n = 401; 33%) whereas the lowest was reported during the dry/hot season (n = 32; 3%).

Conclusion and Recommendation: The current study showed that a considerable number of animal anthrax cases and deaths occurred in the Halaba zone, with varying degrees among different species of susceptible animals, months/seasons, and districts. In this study, the highest number of cases of anthrax was registered in May, June and July months; that calls for the need for practicing prevention strategies including immunization programs before the peak season of anthrax outbreaks. As well, also serves as a baseline for further epidemiological studies for the development of sustainable programs for the control of animal anthrax disease in the study area.

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