Anthrax: Federal Govt Begins Free Vaccination Of Animals

The federal government, on Wednesday, announced that it has commenced free vaccination of animals following the recent outbreak of Anthrax disease in Niger State.

The vaccination is to ensure the safety of livestock and prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected animals and humans.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Umakhihe, gave the hint while on a visit to Emir of Suleja, Dr. Awwal Ibrahim, in Niger State, where Nigeria recorded the first Anthrax outbreak.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Umakhihe noted that anthrax, an infectious zoonotic disease caused by bacteria, affects both domestic and wild animals and can also affect human especially those working closely with infected animals.

He said that the federal government has deployed 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the state for the commencement of mass vaccination of all livestock within 12kilometres radius of the farm where the disease was first diagnosed.

Umakhihe revealed that plans were underway to carry out a free anthrax vaccination campaign in other States of the federation.

The statement added, “We have also placed restrictions of movement on animals within the farm where the outbreak occurred for the next 20 days from the date of the onset of the outbreak.

“This is to ensure that if these animals are infected, they do not infect other animals around them, the farm, its equipment and surroundings will also be thoroughly disinfected while the Ministry will also mount surveillance in slaughter slabs, abattoirs and livestock market around the farm and similar locations in the country to detect the disease early before it spread”.

“The permanent secretary therefore solicited for the cooperation of the people of the Emirate to enable the team (one health concept) carry out all necessary activities to put the outbreak under control, revealing that all in-contact persons have been placed on prophylactic treatment and are being monitored closely.”

The Emir of Suleja, His Royal Highness, Mallam Muhammad Awwal, commended the federal government for its prompt response, noting that the outbreak of the disease in his domain came as a shock to him and his council members.

He, however, stated their readiness to curtail the disease, adding that the Emirate has deployed some health workers to join the government team.

He called for collaboration between the state government and the federal government, pointing out that without synergy among the stakeholders nothing can be achieved particularly concerning this kind of outbreak.