"Forty-three zebras have died in the past two months at Lake Mburo National Park and tests indicate another anthrax outbreak," said Dr Nicholas Kauta, the head of Uganda's anthrax task force.

"We are trying to contain it before it spreads," he told AFP, noting that vaccinations had been sent to innoculate domestic livestock in the area along with instructions to completely incinerate any zebra corpses found.

"We do not want to leave them there for any moment after they die because that will mean that they will produce spores that will remain in the soil and the infestation will continue," Kauta said.

Only cattle and sheep are vaccinated against anthrax because wild animals are notoriously difficult and dangerous to inoculate.

There are an estimated 4,700 zebras in the Lake Mburo reserve which is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Queen Elizabeth National Park where anthrax has killed at least 302 hippos since July of last year.

Ugandan officials, who have appealed for assistance to stop the outbreak in Queen Elizabeth park, say there is no natural corridor between the two sanctuaries but are concerned that anthrax spores could be spread by wind.

Anthrax last hit Lake Mburo in 2003 when two zebras died from the disease which was contained quickly.

Anthrax occurs when animals eat remnants of vegetation in the driest months of September and October, absorbing bacterial spores that can live for decades in dry soil, they say.

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