SHEEMA, Uganda – Five people have died and nine others have been hospitalized following a suspected anthrax outbreak in Kashozi Division, Sheema District, after reportedly consuming meat from a dead cow believed to have been infected with the deadly disease.
District authorities say the victims are residents of Nshungyezi, where the incident occurred. The outbreak has prompted an emergency response by the District Outbreak Disease Response Task Force.
According to district officials, the person who slaughtered the suspected infected animal died shortly afterward, while another woman who prepared the meat also succumbed to the illness. Several other people who consumed the meat are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Sheema Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Asimwe Jane Muhindo, alerted neighboring districts about the suspected outbreak in an official communication dated 14th July 2026. In the letter addressed to the Kasese RDC, she revealed that samples from both humans and animals had been submitted to government laboratories for testing to confirm whether anthrax was responsible for the deaths.
“We are waiting for the laboratory results, but as a precaution, it is important to advise our people to temporarily halt the consumption of meat because prevention is better than cure,” the RDC stated.
Authorities say surveillance has been intensified in the affected communities as health workers, veterinary officers, and security personnel work together to contain the suspected outbreak and trace everyone who may have handled or eaten the contaminated meat.
Officials have also expressed concern that some community members initially attempted to conceal information about the incident, citing a long-standing cultural practice of consuming meat from animals that die naturally. This, they say, may have complicated efforts to respond quickly to the suspected outbreak.
The district has urged residents to avoid eating meat from animals that die under unknown circumstances and instead purchase meat only from licensed slaughterhouses where veterinary inspection is carried out.
Anthrax is a serious bacterial disease that primarily affects livestock but can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or by consuming contaminated meat. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
Authorities have advised members of the public to immediately report any sudden livestock deaths or individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever, skin sores, breathing difficulties, or other unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility or local authorities.
The District Outbreak Disease Response Task Force says additional information will be released once laboratory results are received from government laboratories.
