Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Monday has officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country.
Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba T. Vakuru said livestock 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.
“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway 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.
Weeks ago, the federal government issued a warning to Nigerians after learning of an anthrax outbreak in Northern Ghana where all infected animals had died.
Anthrax mostly affects livestock like cattle, sheep, and goats with spore-forming bacterium Bacillus. However, it can also infect people who come into contact with infected people or contaminated animal products like meat, wool, or skins.
The federal government appealed to Nigerians to “immediately report cases of animals bleeding from body openings to veterinary authorities, or agriculture extension workers.”