Cutaneous anthrax outbreak associated with use of cattle hides and handling carcasses, Amudat District, Uganda, 2023-2024.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that remains endemic in Uganda, particularly in cattle-keeping areas. On December 28, 2023, the first suspected human case of anthrax was detected in Amudat District. We investigated to determine the outbreak's magnitude, identify risk factors, and recommend prevention and control measures.

Methods

We defined a suspected cutaneous anthrax case as acute onset of ≥2 of the following: skin lesions (papule, vesicle, or eschar) on exposed areas such as the hands, forearms, shoulders, back, thighs or face, localized itching, redness, swelling, or regional lymphadenopathy, in Amudat residents from December 2023-June 2024. A confirmed case was a suspected case with PCR-positive test for Bacillus anthracis. In unmatched case-control study (1:3

SUBMITTER: Kwizera P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12622773 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature