Anthrax Outbreak in North Kivu Province Causes One Fatality

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently announced they are intensifying their response to an anthrax outbreak in North Kivu province.

The anthrax outbreak's epicenter is located in four health zones around Lake Edward on the border between the DRC and the Republic of Uganda. It is linked to the ongoing one in Uganda, where seven suspected human cases have been reported in the western Kabale district.

According to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1, 2025, there were 16 suspected cases, one confirmed case, and one related fatality this year.

The WHO states that people can get the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals or exposure to infected or contaminated animal products. Anthrax in humans is not generally regarded as contagious, but human cases of anthrax require hospitalization or treatment with antibiotics.

While human vaccines are in limited supply and used primarily for the protection of selected individuals with possible occupational exposure to anthrax, such as government employees.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax, which outline preferred prevention and treatment regimens for naturally occurring anthrax.

In the United States, access to anthrax vaccines, such as CYFENDUS™, is controlled by the government.