One person has died of suspected anthrax while 82 others have so far received treatment following an outbreak of the disease in Zimbabwe's province of Mashonaland West, The Sunday Mail reported.

The provincial medical director Winceslas Nyamayaro confirmed the disease outbreak but said the cause of the one recorded death had not yet been ascertained.

Eighty-two cases involving people and two cases involving cattle were detected on Ngwarati and Mahewu farms in Trelawney last week. Anthrax is an acute, contagious disease characterized by septicaemia and sudden death.

The disease is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis whose unique feature is its ability to form dormant stages (spores) which can survive in the soil for many years.

Animals become infected by ingestion of contaminated feed or water. In the body, the spores multiply and produce a lethal toxin which kills the animal. Crispen Devere, who is the acting provincial environmental health officer, said his office had managed to contain the situation.

"It is the first time we have had an outbreak on those two farms but I wish to inform all concerned parties that we have managed to successfully treat all cases at Ngwarati and Mahewu farms," Devere said.

Source: Xinhua