The disease was discovered in a farm in Niger State, according to the Federal Government, which confirmed the first case of anthrax in Nigeria.
The disease was discovered in a multi-species animal farm in Niger State, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) released on Monday in Abuja.
In order to ensure that the outbreak in Nigeria is quickly controlled and contained, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has taken proactive measures. These include the quarantining of the affected farm, the distribution of anthrax spore vaccines to affected and neighboring farms, and training workers on symptoms, preventive measures, and what to do when encountering suspected cases.
The nationwide vaccination of sheep, goats, and cattle against anthrax is also being planned. Public awareness campaigns about anthrax will be stepped up, and surveillance for the disease will be increased in livestock farms, markets, and slaughterhouses. In order to prevent contact with sick or dead animals and their products, the ministry advises all livestock owners to be on the lookout and report any suspicious illness or deaths of their animals.
According to the FG alert on anthrax, which was published in June, the disease is a bacterial illness that can affect both humans and animals. The spores of anthrax are naturally present in soil and frequently infect both domestic and wild animals. If a person comes into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, they could become infected with anthrax spores.
On the other hand, anthrax is not a disease that can be spread through direct contact with an infected person.
If anthrax is not identified and treated quickly, it can cause pneumonia, serious lung problems, breathing difficulties, shock, and death. Symptoms of the flu like coughing, fever, and muscle aches are signs of anthrax. The government explained that although humans cannot catch anthrax from eating contaminated or infected animal products, it can spread to humans through inhaling anthrax spores.
Due to their proximity to Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana, the border states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos need to step up animal vaccination campaigns. It has also been suggested that other Nigerian states participate in the vaccination campaign. After using chemicals to kill the anthrax spores, infected dead animals should be buried deeply in the ground alongside the burial equipment.
