An anthrax outbreak in the Semuliki River ecosystem has killed at least 28 hippopotamuses in Virunga National Park, compounding public health pressures in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the country simultaneously contends with a severe Ebola outbreak.
Laboratory Confirmation Along the Semuliki River
The first reports of unusual numbers of dead hippos emerged in mid-September. Michael Kambale, a resident of the Vitshumbi enclave located about 100 kilometres north of Goma in North Kivu province, described the growing alarm among local communities as carcasses began appearing in the water while the region was already responding to an Ebola outbreak. Following laboratory investigations, park authorities confirmed that the bacterial disease anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, was responsible for the animal deaths recorded over a period of roughly four weeks.
Laura Parker, who leads the park’s conservation programs, noted that the current event marks the second year that anthrax has struck the park’s wildlife population, following an outbreak in 2025 that killed approximately 65 hippos. In responding to the latest mortality events, park staff mobilized excavators to retrieve the animal carcasses directly from the water.
Environmental protection in the DRC faces additional strains from nearly thirty years of ongoing armed conflict. This conflict has driven up deforestation and poaching, according to Alerte Congolaise pour l’environnement et les droits de l’homme director and Congolese campaigner Olivier Ndoole Bahemuke, whose nonprofit works within the country.
Drought Forces Animals to Graze Near Contaminated Soil
During periods of drought and reduced rainfall, vegetation becomes scarce, forcing herbivores to graze closer to the ground. They congregate tightly around dwindling water sources and remaining pastureland.
This concentration significantly increases their exposure to contaminated soil and spores. Park management stated that Virunga National Park’s repeated anthrax cases stem from multiple challenges, such as the bacterium’s long-term environmental survival, worsening climate and ecological indicators, animal crowding near water sources, and obstacles in tracking wildlife wellness.
Because these large herbivores act as ecosystem engineers by influencing nutrient flows, conditions, and the exchange of matter between terrestrial and aquatic environments, significant population losses could disrupt the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Virunga National Park officials emphasized that protecting the hippopotamus population is part of an effort to preserve biodiversity across Africa’s oldest national park, which was established in 1925.
Surveillance and Public Health Response
To contain the spread and protect nearby populations, park management teams have increased monitoring in affected sectors, documented new mortalities, and coordinated the safe handling and disposal of carcasses.
People living in the affected area and its surroundings are being informed about the outbreak; they are advised not to touch, skin or consume animals found dead, and to report any carcasses or suspected cases to the relevant authorities
Virunga National Park
Park officials reported that the unfolding situation has been monitored closely, with recent weeks showing no new confirmed cases amid significant rainfall, prompting cautious optimism from management while monitoring protocols and public awareness campaigns continue. The current event marks the second year that anthrax has struck the park’s wildlife population, following an outbreak in 2025 that killed approximately 65 hippos.
