The Federal Government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has launched a free vaccination program against anthrax to safeguard livestock and prevent the spread of the disease to both animals and humans.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, Deputy Director Veterinary and Pests Control Services, Dr. Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, along with his team, visited the Emir’s palace in Niger State to express sympathy over the recent diagnosis of Anthrax disease in the region.
Anthrax, an infectious zoonosis caused by bacteria, poses a threat to domestic and wild animals, as well as humans, particularly those in close contact with infected animals. To combat its impact, the Federal Government has supplied 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the state for a mass vaccination campaign, covering all livestock within a 12-kilometer radius of the farm where the outbreak was detected.
Dr. Umakhihe disclosed that plans were underway to extend the free anthrax vaccination campaign to other states as well. Additionally, movement restrictions have been imposed on animals within the affected farm for the next 20 days from the onset of the outbreak. This measure aims to prevent the infected animals from spreading the disease to others, and the farm and its surroundings will undergo thorough disinfection. Surveillance will also be intensified in slaughter slabs, abattoirs, and livestock markets in the vicinity and across the country to detect any potential outbreaks early.
The Permanent Secretary sought the cooperation of the people in the Emirate to facilitate the activities of the team (utilizing the one-health concept) to control the outbreak. He assured that all individuals in contact with infected animals had been placed on prophylactic treatment and were under close monitoring.
The Emir of Suleja, Mallam Muhammad Awwal, praised the Federal Government’s swift response to the outbreak, expressing readiness to contain the disease and deploying health workers to assist the team. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the State and Federal Governments and other stakeholders to effectively manage such outbreaks.
During an advocacy visit to Suleja Abbatoir, Alhaji Jubril Mandalla, Head of Niger State Butchers Association, expressed gratitude for the team’s visit and acknowledged the Veterinary Doctor’s prior sensitization efforts. He assured their compliance with safety measures and pledged full support in curtailing the disease.
The event culminated in the vaccination of animals in Boyiwa, Kajanna, and Acerbus farms in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary’s representative led advocacy and sensitization visits to Suleja Abbatoir, Livestock Market, Primary Healthcare Centers, and the General Hospital in Suleja.
Participants in these efforts included Veterinarians from the Ministry, Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Services, Officials of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Staff of the NCDC, Ministry of Environment, ECTAD-FAO, Niger State Butchers Association, and other stakeholders.
