The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development over the outbreak of anthrax in Zamfara State while calling for proactive measures to mitigate the risk.
The Director of Information and Public Relations Department of the ministry, Ben Goong, in a document disclosed this and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant over the health implications linked with anthrax.
Educating the public of the targeted warm-blooded animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and wildlife including humans, Goong said it is caused by a bacterium, bacillus anthracis described under zoonotic disease.
Anthrax, known for its high morbidity and mortality, has been marked by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) as a notifiable disease.
Describing the symptoms, the Director said it comes with fever, coughing, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, headaches, itching, and bleeding from major openings.
While addressing this outbreak, Goong highlighted the preventive measures to risk assessment, surveys and ring vaccination of susceptible animals in high-risk areas, prompt detection and response are critical to containing its spread.
Calling on stakeholders to take action against the spread of the disease, he said, “In light of the outbreak, the ministry calls on stakeholders, especially states bordering Zamfara, to take immediate steps to prevent further spread of the disease.”
Similarly, the Rivers State Government has confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as ‘bird flu,’ at a 3,000-capacity poultry farm in Iriebe in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The information was disclosed on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, noting that the affected area has been placed under quarantine, depopulated the infected birds, and decontaminated the premises.
The commissioner stated that the Ministry of Agriculture has collaborated with the Nigerian Veterinary Association of Nigeria to combat the spread, describing it as a threat to both poultry and human health.
He said, “The signs of the disease include high mortality of up to 100 percent without premonitory signs, swollen comb and wattles, reduced egg production, respiratory distress, and redness in the shank.”
“The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to safeguarding the health of our poultry industry and the public, and we ask for the cooperation of all stakeholders. By working together and remaining vigilant, we can mitigate the impact of this outbreak.”
