The nation’s first case of anthrax has been confirmed by the federal government.
Both people and animals, including livestock like cows, pigs, camels, sheep, and goats, can contract the deadly bacterial illness anthrax.
To lessen the chance of illness and the spread of anthrax, however, the government has suggested precautions for Nigerians and livestock owners.
A farm in Suleja, Niger State, is where the first incident is reported, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Visiting the farm to perform initial investigations and gather samples from the sick animals was a Rapid Response team made up of federal and state health professionals.
A statement by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba T. Vakuru, explained that animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14, 2023.
It said: “The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna express way 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 states One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals. Subsequent laboratory tests by the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years,” the statement reads in part.
According to the NCDC, the bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals, adding that it affects humans through eating and direct contact with infected animals and breathing in the spores, which is “the deadliest form of the disease.”
It noted that symptoms in animals include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, bleeding from all body openings (nose, mouth, ears, anus etc.), swelling and difficulty in breathing and bloody diarrhoea.
The government had advised Nigerians to avoid all non-essential travel to the northern region of Ghana especially the Upper East Region where the outbreak was reported.
It noted that Nigerians should exercise caution when buying livestock – from states bordering Benin, Chad, and Niger, and from Ghana and Togo via waterways, adding that rams or cattle to be slaughtered for the festive period should be carefully observed for signs of sickness before slaughtering.
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