The federal government has currently alerted the public on the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries within the West African sub- region.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement by Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced in Abuja.
He made a remark saying, that the affected countries were Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.
Umakhihe said that the disease which had claimed some lives is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man.
He said that Anthrax spores were naturally found in the soil and commonly affected domestic and wild animals.
Umakhihe said that people could get infected with Anthrax spores if they came in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
He said that the disease was not contagious and one could get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.
“Signs of anthrax are, flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever and muscle aches,” he said.
He said that if not diagnosed and treated early, it would lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death.
The permanent secretary said that anthrax being a bacterial disease, responded to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy.
“It is primarily a disease of animals but because of man’s closeness to animals, non-vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores.
“It could also be through consumption of contaminated or infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk,” he said.
He said annual vaccinations with anthrax spores were available at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau.
He said that it was the cheapest and easiest means of prevention and control of the disease in animals, adding that infected animals could not be vaccinated, but animals at risk could be vaccinated.
“There is a need to intensify animal vaccinations along border states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, because of their proximity to Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana,” he said.
Umakhihe urged other states in Nigeria to join in the exercise to prevent the spread of the disease.
He advised that infected dead animals should be buried deep into the soil, with equipment used in the burial after applying chemicals that would kill the anthrax spores.
“The public is strongly advised to desist from the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose serious risk until the situation is brought under control,” he said.
Umakhihe urged the public to remain calm and vigilant as the federal government has resuscitated a standing committee on the control of anthrax.
He said that relevant institutions and collaborators had been contacted with the aim of controlling the outbreak.
“This is in addition to the sensitisation of State Directors of Veterinary Services nationwide,” he said.
Source: NAN
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