Anthrax is primarily a disease of animals; however, due to the proximity between humans and animals, it can easily be transmitted to humans through inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated or infected animal products such as hides and skins, meat, and milk
It is a serious disease which presents flu-like symptoms such as cough, painless sores with a black centre appearing after the blister, fever, and muscle aches.
However, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) confirmed one case of Anthrax in a mixed livestock farm in Niger State on Monday.
It was the first animal case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the West Africa outbreak in Ghana in June 2023.
On 13 July, the sudden deaths of livestock in the mixed livestock farm with eight (8) mortality was reported. In addition, the animals which died were observed to have been bleeding from external orifices without blood clotting.
Making this known in a statement, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it “is deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”
It added that “On July 14, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger.
“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes and ears.
“A Rapid Response team comprising of federal and state One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.”
After samples were taken to the laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute in Plateau State, the case of Anthrax was confirmed.
Stemming on the above, the House of Representatives has resolved to curtail the outbreak of Anthrax discovered in a farm at Gajiri Village in Niger State by directing relevant government agencies to arrest the outbreak.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Adamu Tanko (PDP-Niger) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.
In the motion, Tanko noted that the report of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concerning the presence of anthrax in Nigeria was disturbing.
He said the laboratory test conducted on the collected samples by the National Veterinary Research Institute confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm.
He said similar cases of the diseases were confirmed in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo, with symptoms including sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings.
These include: the nose, ear, mouth, and anal region and spread through affected livestock, bush meat, and contaminated environments.
He expressed concern over the potential spread of the disease to other livestock farms in the country and its possible impact on public health,
He said Anthrax might affect humans in direct contact with affected animals and contaminated products, with potential inhalation, through spores or wounds.
He said there was a need for proactive measures to prevent the spread of Anthrax in Nigeria and protect the health and livelihood of citizens by placing public health precautions in place.
He called for strict surveillance and monitoring of livestock farms, as well as proper disposal of infected animals and contaminated materials.
He commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in addressing the issue.
This, according to him, was by implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of Anthrax and protect both livestock and human health.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in implementing effective surveillance, vaccination.
Others include awareness campaigns to contain the outbreak and provide adequate resources and support to affected communities, including compensation for losses incurred due to the outbreak.
The House also urged the National Centre for Disease Control to put in place measures that will stop the further spread of anthrax.
The House also mandated the committees on Agricultural Production and Services | and Legislative Compliance when constituted to monitor.
For prevention, the government has urged intensified vaccination, proper disposal of suspected and infected animals and avoiding risky consumptions such as hides (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat.
It also urged adherence to hygiene practices, especially in places where ponmo, bone meals and blood meals are produced.
It advised that persons at risk such as people who handle animals, people who consume dead animals, healthcare workers, law enforcement officers and anyone who recently travelled to a location with a confirmed anthrax case to take their hygiene practices seriously.
Other measures, according to the government, include effective disinfection before processing wool, hides, and bone meal; securing veterinary assistance in case of animal infection; decontamination soils where cases are reported and reporting suspicions to the regional veterinary officer, who will, in turn, report to the Director of Veterinary Services in the state, to report any suspicion based on the aforementioned signs.
We (News Echo) therefore urge the general public, farmers, butchers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to adhere strictly to these preventive measures to safeguard public health and prevent the further spread of anthrax.
