Zambia's Hidden Fight: How People and Wildlife Share the Risk of Anthrax

In Zambia, anthrax is a big problem that affects both people and animals. It's a disease that can spread from animals to humans, and it's especially risky in places where wildlife, livestock, and people live close together. Three areas in Zambia—Simalaha Conservancy, Blue Lagoon, and Lochinvar National Parks—are hotspots for this disease. These places are also where illegal wildlife trade happens, making the situation even more dangerous. A recent study looked at how much people in these areas know about anthrax, what they think about it, and what they do to prevent it. Over a thousand people were asked questions to find out their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) related to anthrax. The results showed that while many people understand the seriousness of the disease, their actual knowledge about it is quite low. For example, more than 80% of the people surveyed knew that anthrax is a serious disease, and almost 60% knew that vaccination can help control it. However, 72. 5% of the people had very little awareness about how the disease spreads and how to treat it. This lack of knowledge led to some risky behaviors. For instance, nearly 15% of the people admitted to eating meat from animals that had died suddenly, and 46. 3% handled potentially infected animals without taking any safety precautions. One of the most concerning findings was that some people relied on spiritual or herbal remedies instead of seeking medical help. This shows a big gap between what people know and what they actually do to protect themselves. The study also found that education plays a big role in how much people know about anthrax. People who had been exposed to information about the disease before were more likely to have better knowledge about it. This suggests that educating communities about anthrax could be a key step in reducing the spread of the disease. The findings highlight the need for better public health interventions, improved veterinary services, and stricter enforcement of wildlife trade regulations. These steps could help reduce the risk of anthrax transmission in these communities and protect both people and wildlife.