Anthrax: Kwara Rolls Out Preventive Measures

Kwara State government yesterday rolled out new measures to curb the spread of anthrax disease into the state.

The state government in a public health advisory released by the director of veterinary services of the state ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr AbdulLateef Olugbon encouraged livestock owners and stakeholders in the livestock business to increase their alertness and ensure prompt reporting of suspicious illness and death of their animals.

It urged members of the public to exercise caution when buying animals from Niger State and other states bordering the Republic of Benin, Chad, and Niger as well as Ghana and Togo via waterways.

It also advised butchers to avoid slaughtering of animals at home and other illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs, adding that butchers should henceforth desist from slaughtering sick animals for public consumption, and avoid selling or eating products from sick or dead animals such as skin, hides and milk.

The government enjoined the general public, especially livestock value chain operators, to increase good hygiene practice by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals or their products.

It also enjoined the livestock farmers and general public to report any suspected cases of anthrax symptoms such as bleeding from body openings like the nose, eyes, anus and ears to the nearest veterinary authorities or the state Ministry of Agriculture and its offices across the state.