LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja earlier today and signed by Dr Columba T. Vakuru, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, the Ministry said it was “deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”
According to the statement, 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 14 July.
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“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.
“The blood of an anthrax-infected animal does not clot. Do not process or move the dead or sick animal; quickly report to your veterinary doctor or veterinary authorities at the ministry of agriculture in your State,” the statement advised Nigerians.
Recall that the Federal Government had issued a warning to Nigerians against the consumption of hides, commonly known as ponmo, smoked meat and bush meat, following the outbreak of Anthrax in some neighbouring countries.