More than 2,300 reindeer and a 12-year-old child were killed by anthrax during a heatwave in Siberia in August 2016, while anthrax claimed an estimated 300 hippos in Uganda in 2004. We now know that carnivory is actually common among hippos. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images "Anthrax infection in wildlife is actually fairly common," says epidemiologist Melissa Marx, an assistant professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who investigated the 2011 anthrax incidents in Zambia. Marx was working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when the Zambia outbreak occurred. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention helped Zambia's government trace an outbreak of anthrax in humans to infected hippo meat. “A man who showed signs and symptoms of anthrax admitted to have eaten hippo meat which he was given by a relative living in Saba ward. When the cattle die that is when we realize that it was suffering from anthrax. "The thing about anthrax outbreaks is that the animal outbreaks are predictable — and in Zambia they're seasonal. Source: Science Link: Could hippos be meat eaters? In 2011, as the hippos succumbed to the anthrax infections, local villagers butchered their carcasses for their meat. Soon after the hippos fell ill, people started getting sick, too. Despite this, Marx and her colleagues found that nearly a quarter of the local residents said that the rash of cases wouldn't stop them from continuing to butcher dead hippos. If the hippos had been dying of some other infection, the human fatality rate may have been far higher. They were thinking about how nice it would be to feed their family.". In 2011, as the hippos succumbed to the anthrax infections, local villagers butchered their carcasses for their meat. 8. Subscribe to Our Newsletter In 2011, as the hippos succumbed to the anthrax infections, local villagers butchered their carcasses for their meat. Hippos eat meat more than had been thought, a practice that could explain their susceptibility to anthrax die-offs when they consume infected animals. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images, Anthrax Outbreak In Russia Thought To Be Result Of Thawing Permafrost. Soon more than 500 human anthrax cases were reported in … In many other parts of Africa, including Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and yes, parts of Zambia, food shortages could also reach crisis levels. About a fifth of survey respondents said they would eat meat from a dead hippo again, even knowing it might cause anthrax infection because they lacked protein, meat, or were hungry. 7. People do *BUT*… only a few groups do so traditionally because hippos are EXTREMELY dangerous. “We saw a bunch of wild dogs come and attack an impala, and the impala jumped into the water, tried to swim across the little lake, and the hippo killed it. Their behavior as meat eaters in … He had ulcers on the mouth and face and complained of severe headaches. Did you see any dead hippos in the last week? Anthrax outbreaks among hippos is not totally rare thing in Africa. Hippos eat meat more than had been thought, a practice that could explain their susceptibility to anthrax die-offs when they consume infected animals. It was the dry season — also known as the lean season, when food is in short supply for both hippos and humans. In 2004, as many as 200 hippos died from a deadly anthrax outbreak in Uganda. University of Alaska research Joseph P. Dudley was in Zimbabwe studying elephants when he saw this scene play out more than 20 years ago. Soon more than 500 human anthrax cases were reported in the area and at least five people died. Meat is in short supply in this game management area in Zambia. 11. Leave a … [The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]. A hippo walks through the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, where an anthrax outbreak occurred in 2011. The disease is called as such because the communities understand that it is transmitted by eating infected hippo meat. Soon more than 500 human anthrax cases were reported in … Earlier this year, the United Nations warned that in just four countries — Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen — nearly 20 million people are facing starvation. Because the wildlife is protected, the locals aren't allowed to hunt for food. _ Yes _ No . The majority of anthrax cases reported during the 2016 Chama outbreak responded that they had eaten hippo meat. Top News. _ Yes _ No . 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