The Federal Government has confirmed the first case of Anthrax in Nigeria, after the disease was discovered in a farm in Niger State on Monday.
Making this known in a statement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it “is deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”
It added that “On 14th of July, 2023, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.
“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising 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 federal and state 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 and after the report of an outbreak of anthrax in Northern Ghana a few weeks ago.”
According to the statement, all of the animals involved died.
Following proven outbreaks in Ghana and other West African countries, the Ministry had notified the possibility of Anthrax intrusion into the country a few weeks ago.
Anthrax is a serious zoonotic illness produced by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. It typically affects cattle, sheep, and goats, but can also infect humans who come into direct contact with sick animals or consume contaminated animal products.
The disease can also be spread by polluted pasture, feed, and water.
Anthrax in animals manifests clinically as sudden death and blood flowing from natural body openings (nose, ear, mouth, and anal region).
Anthrax spores can survive in a contaminated environment for decades.
The Federal Government stated that it has taken proactive measures to control and contain the disease through the Ministry and in partnership with the Niger state government.
Such measures include quarantining the affected farm, deploying 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccines for ring vaccination of susceptible animal species around the infected farm, and educating farm workers on the symptoms, preventive measures, and what to do if they notice any signs of the disease using a One-health approach.
Other efforts include the completion of a strategy for state-wide anthrax vaccination of susceptible animals, as well as the expansion of passive surveillance activities in livestock farms, markets, and abattoirs, as well as focused public awareness campaigns on anthrax.
The Ministry also asked all livestock owners to be watchful and report any suspicions of illness or fatalities on their farms as soon as possible; prevent contact with sick or dead animals and their products; and avoid killing sick animals, as butchering sick animals can expose people to anthrax spores.
Livestock owners are also advised to avoid contact with wild animals and products such as ‘bush’ meat, to report any incidence of sudden death of animals to the nearest veterinary authorities, to use personal protective equipment (gloves, facemasks, goggles, boots) when handling sick or dead animals, to practice appropriate biosecurity measures, and to dispose of all cases of animals in an environmentally friendly manner and in consultation with veterinarians, environmentalists, and other experts.
