Anthrax outbreak claims lives of more than 165 wild animals in Zimbabwe
-88 hippos, 45 buffaloes, 30 elephants and two kudos found dead in Mana Pools national park
-88隻河馬、45頭水牛、30頭大象和兩隻Kudos被發現死在國家公園的法力池
Tests confirm hippos were killed by anthrax
-測試確認河馬由炭疽所殺
By Stewart Maclean
Last updated at 11:48 AM on 10th January 2012
Translation by Autumnson Blog
More than 165 wild animals including 88 hippopotamuses have died amid an outbreak of anthrax in Zimbabwe.
超過 165隻野生動物包括88頭河馬已經死於津巴布韋的炭疽爆發。
The hippos were found dead alongside 45 buffaloes, 30 elephants and two kudos in the country's northern Mana Pools national park.
河馬被發現死在該國北部國家公園法力池內45頭水牛、30隻大象和兩隻Kudos的旁邊。
Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo told the state-owned Herald newspaper that tests had proved the hippos were killed by anthrax.
津巴布韋公園和野生動物管理局發言女人 Caroline Washaya-莫約對國有的先驅報說，測試已證明河馬被炭疽所殺。
傳染：超過 165隻野生動物包括88頭河馬已經死於津巴布韋的炭疽爆發
She added that the cause of death for the other animals had not yet been confirmed but said early signs suggested they had also fallen victim to the infectious disease.
她補充，其牠動物的死亡承因尚未得到證實，但說早期跡象表明，牠們亦已成為傳染病的受害者。
Ms Washaya-Moyo said she feared the outbreak could spread to other wildlife in the protected reserve, which lies around the lower Zambezi River.
Washaya-莫約小姐說，她擔心疫情爆發可能在保育區蔓延到其牠野生動物，圍繞贊比西河的較下游。
She said: 'Our office has confirmed the anthrax outbreak following the death of the animals in Mana Pools.
她說：“我們的辦公室已證實，法力池動物繼炭疽爆發後死亡。
'The Authority engaged the vet offices who later collected samples from hippos for lab testing.
'The lab test confirmed that 88 hippopotamus died of anthrax.'
Officials are today conducting further tests on the affected animals, which are all believed to have died in the last few weeks.
Government veterinary officer Chris Foggin said a team of specialists had visited the area and were burning the carcasses of the dead animals in an attempt to prevent the infection from spreading.
He told the Herald: 'A number of animals have died, but we have visited the area and we sealed it off and we are burning the carcasses to prevent any further spread, an action well considered now that the lab reports confirmed anthrax as the culprit.'
Mana Pools is one of Zimbabwe's most famous national parks.
The World Heritage site is a wetlands conservation area formed around four natural lake pools along the Zambezi.
It is home to the country's largest concentration of hippos as well as other wildlife including lions, buffalo and leopards.
Visitors to the area can stay in unfenced luxury accommodation or campsites, allowing them the opportunity to spot game from close up.
Anthrax is a highly infectious disease that affects mainly hoofed animals and cattle.
It is picked up by mammals which come into contact with bacteria formed into spores, which sometimes lay dormant for decades before becoming active.
Although the disease is not generally passed directly from one animal to another, a creature can pick up the spores if it comes into contact with the corpse of another which has been killed by the infection.
The condition's highly infectious state has resulted in anthrax being used as a biological weapon against humans, who are also vulnerable to illness or death if infected.
The crisis in Zimbabwe is the second reported anthrax outbreak among African game animals in recent years.
In July 2010, the government of Uganda confirmed 82 hippos were among at least 90 animals which had been killed by the disease.
Officials there said the affected creatures came into contact with anthrax spores after drinking water from an infected river in the country's Queen Elizabeth National Park.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084603/Anthrax-outbreak-claims-lives-165-wild-animals-Zimbabwe.html#ixzz1j5SmOf21
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