A major epidemic of anthrax in Zimbabwe. The experience at the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital, Harare.

Large numbers of patients with anthrax were admitted to the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare and many were able to give precise information on manifestations of anthrax in cattle and humans of a quality that inspired testing of hypotheses concerning insects as an infection vector and quality of statistics collected by this hospital. A table details hospital admission by district and over time from Jannary 1980 to June 1982. Mortality was low and cases were almost exclusively cutaneous. Complications were prevented in most cases by antibiotics which had little effect on skin lesions. Parenteral fluids and steroids were administered to treat dehydration and swelling. Some observations illustrated by case studies were an absence of hospital cross infection. Little damage was reported to eyes. Only 1 case of non-cutaneous anthrax was recorded. Statistical analysis performed on the data showed that the distribution of lesions analyzed in age groups support the hypothesis that fly transmission is important and that this accounts for an increased proportion of lesions on the head neck or face in the younger age groups who are not exposed to animal carcases. Non-cutaneous anthrax seems to be uncommon. Quality of hospital statistics is suggested by the close coincidence of the arrival of cases in the hospital with the 1st occurrence of anthrax in the districts of origin.