FG confirms first anthrax case in Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has confirmed the first case of anthrax in Nigeria on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Columba T. Vakuru, made this known in a statement, said a Rapid Response team comprising federal and state Health Professional Team, have visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.

Dr Vakuru said the case was reported to his office on Friday, July 14, 2023.

“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising cattle, sheep and goats, located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna express way 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 added.

Anthrax is a severe bacterial disease that affects humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock including cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats.

According to the NCDC, the bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals, adding that it affects humans through eating and direct contact with infected animals and breathing in the spores, which is “the deadliest form of the disease.”

It noted that symptoms in animals include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, bleeding from all body openings (nose, mouth, ears, anus etc.), swelling and difficulty in breathing and bloody diarrhoea.

However, the government has outlined preventive measures for Nigerians and livestock owners to reduce the potential risk of infection and the spread of anthrax.

It advised Nigerians to avoid all non-essential travel to the northern region of Ghana, especially the Upper East Region where the outbreak was reported.

Government also urged Nigerians to exercise caution when buying livestock from states bordering Benin, Chad, and Niger, and from Ghana and Togo via waterways, adding that rams or cattle to be slaughtered for the festive period should be carefully observed for signs of sickness before slaughtering.

For livestock owners, it advised vaccination of the animals as the most effective preventive measure against anthrax.