Agriculture Ministry says it found no trace of an anthrax epidemic from the sample collected from the 36 dead cows found in the fields of Kelima Bendu Town, Foya Statutory District, in Lofa County.
It said its animal technicians, or scientists, carried out the testing of the sample collected and found no trace of the anthrax virus, or any other disease for that matter, putting speculations to bed.
However, the technicians stated that those cows may have died from lightning strike during the heavy rainfall on that fateful night, as that is the only logical explanation of the situation.
On Thursday, July 6, in the cow fields along the Kelima Bendu Town, on the Foya- Mendekorma Highway, 36 cows, said to be owned by an unidentified Fulani businessman, were found dead.
Early this week, Sierra Leonean Government imposed a ban on the movement of cattle from Liberia, as well as the importation of meat from the neighbouring country, due to the still unexplained death of said cows, while the Liberian government started carrying out an investigation into the cause of death in early July.
In May 2022, an anthrax epidemic broke out in Sierra Leone, killing more than 200 animals. Transmitted by spores that can remain inactive for decades in the soil, this disease is transmissible to humans and potentially fatal in its rarest forms.
Also, early this week, in Bewein Town in Yarwein Mehnsonnoh District, Nimba County, 36 residents were hospitalized at the Jackson Fiah Doe Hospital in Tappita, following the consumption of a dead goat on the farm of a church pastor on Friday, July 14.
The cause of death of the goat is not yet known as investigation is underway. These two similar incidents happening within weeks in the rural communities is raising concern amongst the population about the sale and safety of meat on the local market.
