The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a public warning regarding the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries within the West African sub-region. Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this announcement in a statement released in Abuja on Monday.
According to Umakhihe, the affected Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo, with the bacterial disease claiming some lives. He added that Anthrax spores are commonly found in the soil and can affect both domestic and wild animals, thus making it possible for humans to get infected with Anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
The disease is not contagious, however. One cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person. The symptoms of anthrax, which are flu-like, include cough, fever, and muscle aches. If not diagnosed and treated early, it can lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock, and even death.
Umakhihe reassured the public that anthrax, being a bacterial disease, responds to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy. However, prevention is key, and annual vaccinations with anthrax spores are available at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau.
Umakhihe appealed to the Nigerian public to desist from the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat, and bush meat. He urged citizens to bury infected dead animals deep into the soil, with equipment used in the burial after applying chemicals that would kill the anthrax spores.
Umakhihe also called for animal vaccinations to be intensified along the border states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States due to their proximity to Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana. He strongly advised other states in Nigeria to join in the vaccination exercise to prevent the spread of the disease.
The federal government has resuscitated a standing committee on the control of anthrax, with relevant institutions and collaborators being contacted to help control the outbreak. State Directors of Veterinary Services nationwide have also been sensitised to the situation, Umakhihe added.
This is a dire warning to Nigerians to be aware of the dangers of consuming certain animal products and to take measures to prevent and control the spread of the Anthrax disease.
