Liberia Rules Out Anthrax For Mystery Cow Deaths

Earlier this week, Sierra Leone banned the movement of livestock and meat imports from neighboring Liberia following the mysterious death of 36 cows near the border. The Sierra Leone government said it was stepping up surveillance for possible anthrax. Liberian authorities said the cattle deaths began in July near the town of Kelima Bendu in Lofa County. Liberia’s agriculture minister Jeanie Cooper says an investigation concluded that the cows did not die from anthrax as was suspected. Instead, she tells Daybreak Africa host James Butty, the plausible explanation for the animals’ death could have been a lightning strike.