The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed an anthrax outbreak in the eastern province of North Kivu, with one human case and one death officially recorded, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has affected four health zones surrounding Lake Edward, near the border between DRC and Uganda, where 16 suspected human cases have been identified.

Initial concerns were raised on March 22 after dozens of buffalo and hippopotamuses were reported dead in Virunga National Park, a major wildlife sanctuary in the region. Subsequent investigations linked the animal deaths to anthrax, a serious bacterial infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Anthrax primarily affects animals, but humans can become infected through direct or indirect contact with sick animals or contaminated animal products. The WHO stressed that efforts are now focused on halting further animal-to-human transmission.

“Our efforts are focused on swiftly breaking the animal-to-human transmission. We’re working closely with the government, communities, and partners to strengthen response measures to protect public health now and in the future,” said Dr. Boureima Sambo, WHO Representative in the DRC.

The outbreak in North Kivu is believed to be connected to a similar incident on the Ugandan side of Lake Edward, where seven suspected human cases have been reported in the western Kabale District. Cross-border coordination and response efforts are ongoing, including the vaccination of livestock in affected areas.

Anthrax is not commonly transmitted from person to person, though rare instances of human-to-human spread have been documented. Infections in humans generally manifest in three forms, with the most frequent being cutaneous anthrax, which occurs when spores enter the body through skin abrasions. This results in a characteristic itchy bump that progresses into a black sore, often accompanied by fever, muscle aches, and nausea.

Other forms include gastrointestinal anthrax, caused by consuming contaminated meat, which can trigger severe symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloody vomiting, and diarrhea.