The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, ha said that it is improving surveillance across all borders of the Federal Capital Territory to guard against anthrax.
The Director of Veterinary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Regina Adaulugba, stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
Adaulugba described anthrax as a “serious infectious disease caused by a bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis”, adding that it occurred naturally in soil and commonly affected domestic and wild animals.
She explained that the surveillance became necessary, following the reported cases of anthrax in June, in parts of West Africa, including neighbouring Ghana.
She noted that although Nigeria had not recorded a single case yet, the FCT Administration was being proactive by mounting surveillance control posts in all borders to the city, to prevent an outbreak.
She assured residents that the Emergency Preparedness Department of the Epidemiology Unit was prepared to handle on-the-spot analysis and carry out active and passive surveillance.
“As we speak, the unit has the equipment to do something immediately in case of an outbreak, before we ask for external assistance,” she assured.
She also disclosed that the FCTA had embarked on a sensitisation campaign, targeting high-risk individuals and groups, such as herders, butchers and other stakeholders.
The director explained that the campaign was in line with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directives to all states to raise awareness about the disease.
She said that the campaign was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as well as Environmental, Health, and Human Services Secretariats of the FCTA.
“We are targeting people who trade in animals, people who butcher animals, those who handle them, personnel that have anything to do with animals.
“We had done one sensitisation programme already in Deidei and Karu abattoirs, where we enlightened butchers and meat handlers about the disease.
“This is because they are the people at high risk of contracting the disease, so that they can take proper precautions,” she said.
She added that the people were enlightened about the outbreak of anthrax in neighbouring countries and why they should be on the lookout.
Adaulugba advised residents and butchers to avoid buying, selling or slaughtering sick animals as a precaution against the disease.
She listed some of the symptoms as high fever, sudden death, bleeding from the nose, mouth and ear.
“It has several means of transmission. For example, a person will contract the disease if he or she has a wound on the hand and gets into contact with an infected animal.
“You will also contract the disease if you eat anything that contains anthrax. It can also be transmitted by air.
“In fact, aerosol transmission is what makes it even more dangerous because the spores can be inhaled and cause problems,” she said.
She urged residents and animal handlers to report symptoms to veterinary clinics and centres close to them for proper measures to be taken.
She also advised residents to always call the attention of experts at veterinary centres before disposing sick animals.
The director added that the FCTA had concluded plans to hold a meeting and sensitisation workshop with stakeholders, adding that a committee had been set up to work out the modalities.
She said that flyers and handbills with illustrations and pictures would be produced to show people, particularly herders, what to look out for and measures to take to avoid contracting the disease.
(NAN)