The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned that anthrax disease may have already spread to all parts of the country.
This warning came shortly after the Ministry of Agriculture, on behalf of the Federal Government, confirmed the first case of anthrax in Niger state.
According to a report from yesterday, the initial case of the disease was identified on a multi-specie animal farm in Suleja, comprising cattle, sheep, and goats.
In an interview on Channels Television, the NCDC’s Executive Director, Ifedayo Adetifa, attributed the presence of anthrax in the country to its transmission from neighboring nations.
The symptoms of anthrax-infected animals include the oozing of blood from various body openings such as the anus, nose, eyes, and ears, along with high fever. However, in some instances, the signs may not be visible, leading to sudden death.
Ifedayo Adetifa reiterated in the interview that anthrax appears to have entered the country from neighboring countries, raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease across Nigeria.
He said, “The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes, and ears.”
“Earlier there were significant movements of animals in the area of the last religious feast. The areas are called down south, and it’s possible that in that region where animals are infected may have made their way into the country.
“Most especially for animals that were brought in across the borders. So, in this context, this is the first animal we have diagnosed its condition with, so there may be other animals with it.”
“It is also possible that the disease is currently across the country and likely other cases that are yet to be notified. But we can only react to what we know,” Adetifa said.
He cautioned that any animals showing signs of sickness within the vicinity of the reported farm and beyond should be immediately reported to the relevant human and animal health authorities.
Furthermore, any slaughtered or deceased animals with clotted blood after being killed must be disposed of promptly or notified to the authorities without delay.
As per reports, the first case of the disease outbreak was confirmed on a multi-specie animal farm in Suleja, where cattle, sheep, and goats were present.
