Ibanda District has instituted a one month temporary closure of slaughter activities and livestock movement in Ibanda Municipality and Ibanda South following the out break of Anthrax disease.

In a letter dated today, Janury 17th, 2024, written by Ibanda District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Kweyamba Ruhemba, he nited that on November, 2023, the disease was reported in Rugaaga 1 and Rugaaga IV villages in Keihangara Sub County, Ibanda District where 9 people were admitted at Uganda Martyrs Hospital, Ibanda of which 6 of them tested positive for Anthrax Disease.

Kweyamba says early this month,one person from Mabonwa in Rukiri Sub County tested positive for the disease and so far 12 people from Kakoma in Rukiri Sub County are showing signs. On January, 2024, two animals died abruptly in Kigarama ward, Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality, samples have been collected and forwarded to for testing.

Kweyamba says as district authorities, they have instituted some measures to curb the spread of Anthrax that include a one month temporary closure of slaughter activities and livestock movement in Ibanda municipality and Ibanda South, registering all meat handlers in the district (Butchers) and ensuring that all have a health certificate before they handle meat. Other measures include carryout ring vaccination in areas that suspected to have an outbreak of this disease like in Keihangara Sub County, Bisheshe Division, Rukiri Sub County and Kagongo Division, continue sensitizing people on how to fight this disease.