A new outbreak of anthrax He hardly hit the wildlife of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a few days Fifty hippopotami they were found lifeless Near Lake Edoardo and its tributaries.
A tragedy that, despite its gravity, had been somehow announced: experts know well the behavior of this disease, silent and lethal. The culprit has a well -known name: Bacillus Anthracisthe bacterium responsible for the carbuncle.
It is a microorganism extremely resistantable to remain in a state latent in the ground in the form of spores for decades. When environmental conditions become favorable – as during the dry season – can reactivate and spread quickly among the wild animals that yes biterano in contaminated waters.
A crisis that tests conservation
This that Antrace affects sub -Saharan Africa. In the Virunga region, already deeply marked by poaching, loss of habitat And political instabilityepidemics find fertile ground. Hippopotami, often in close contact with each other in aquatic environments, are among the species more vulnerable. In an ecosystem already under pressure, even a single episode can have devastating consequences.
But there are Risks also for humans and pets? Local authorities have launched a appeal to maximum prudence: Avoid any contact with carcasses and do not consume their meat. The risk of zoonosisthat is, the passage of the disease from animals to humans is concrete. Also the pets They can infect themselves, further aggravating the situation in the rural communities close to the park.
The Virunga National Park is much more than a nature reserve: it is The oldest protected area of Africa and a World Heritage Site. But it is also a land tormented by armed conflicts and illegal activities. The population of hippos, once estimated at almost 30 thousand individuals, is reduced to less than 5%. And now, in addition to the rifles, it is the disease that threatens what remains.
Similar cases have also occurred in Zimbabwe and in other countries of southern Africa. Experts continue to monitor the territory, but the problem remains: the resources are scarcethe huge challenges. Nature has launched yet another signal. The question is: are we ready to listen to it?
