Anthrax has claimed the lives of at least 50 hippos in Congo’s Virunga National Park, with officials struggling to contain the deadly outbreak amid logistical challenges.
At a Glance
- At least 50 hippos and several buffalo have died from anthrax poisoning in Congo’s Virunga National Park
- Park director Emmanuel De Merode confirmed the outbreak, which is threatening the park’s population of about 1,200 hippos
- Officials lack proper equipment and access to properly dispose of carcasses, complicating containment efforts
- Local residents have been warned to avoid wildlife and boil water before drinking
- Anthrax bacteria can lie dormant in soil for decades before causing sudden, deadly outbreaks
Deadly Outbreak Strikes Virunga’s Wildlife
A devastating anthrax outbreak has killed at least 50 hippos and several buffalo in eastern Congo’s Virunga National Park. Park officials discovered the animals’ bodies along the Ishasha River, which borders Uganda, confirming through testing that anthrax poisoning was responsible for the mass casualties. The death toll represents a significant blow to the park’s hippo population, currently estimated at around 1,200 animals, which had been recovering after years of poaching and conflict in the region.
“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.
Park director Emmanuel De Merode confirmed the anthrax diagnosis on Tuesday while noting that containment efforts face severe challenges. “Tests confirmed anthrax poisoning,” said Virunga Park director Emmanuel De Merode, adding that buffalo have been killed too.
Containment Challenges Mount
Park officials are struggling to properly dispose of the infected carcasses, a critical step in preventing further spread of the deadly bacteria. The remote location of the outbreak area, combined with regional instability and lack of heavy equipment, has severely hampered response efforts. Without excavators or other machinery to bury the dead animals, the risk of continued contamination remains high, particularly as the river carries carcasses downstream.
“It’s difficult due to lack of access and logistics,” De Merode told Reuters.
The situation has worsened as hippo carcasses have been carried downstream into Lake Edward, further spreading the contamination. Local civil society leaders have reported numerous bodies in the lake’s waters. “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.
Understanding Anthrax Outbreaks
Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, can remain dormant in soil for decades before environmental conditions trigger an outbreak. The bacteria forms hardy spores that can survive extreme conditions until they find a suitable host. When animals like hippos graze in areas with exposed spores, they can ingest the bacteria, leading to rapid illness and death. Previous wildlife outbreaks across Africa demonstrate the cyclical nature of these events, which often coincide with changing environmental conditions like drought.
“Anthrax infection in wildlife is actually fairly common,” Melissa Marx, an infectious disease expert who studied a similar outbreak in Zambia.
This is not the first anthrax outbreak to devastate hippo populations in Africa. In 2004, Uganda lost approximately 200 hippos to anthrax, with the disease subsequently infecting and killing at least 10 people. More recently, Namibia’s Bwabwata National Park experienced a similar crisis when over 100 hippos died from suspected anthrax. These recurring outbreaks highlight the persistent threat anthrax poses to wildlife conservation efforts across the continent.
Human Health Concerns
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation has issued urgent advisories for local communities, warning residents to avoid contact with wildlife and to boil water before drinking. Anthrax can spread to humans through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated meat, making these precautions essential. When untreated, human anthrax infections can be fatal, particularly in remote areas with limited healthcare access. Officials are especially concerned about preventing disease spread in communities along the river and lake.
The threat extends beyond immediate health concerns. Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has faced numerous challenges in recent decades. Ongoing militia activity since the early 2000s has complicated conservation efforts and limited access to certain areas of the park. These security issues, combined with the current anthrax outbreak, create a complex crisis for park management and surrounding communities who depend on the park’s resources for their livelihoods.
