On Saturday, the Plateau State Government made an official announcement that two communities in the state are facing suspected cases of anthrax disease.
The disclosure was conveyed through a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, and it was shared with journalists.
Though the statement did not specify the names of the affected communities, it did emphasize that the government has taken immediate action by directing the Epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health and the Veterinary unit of the Ministry of Agriculture to promptly address the situation.
Furthermore, the government has taken precautionary measures by collecting samples from the affected areas and sending them to the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom for a thorough assessment and further investigation.
The government is treating the situation with utmost urgency to prevent any potential spread of the disease and ensure the safety and well-being of the affected communities.
The statement read, “The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to a story published in some national newspapers and trending on social media that over 1,000 cows died of a strange disease within a space of four days in some villages in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
“The said story is far from the truth, as it does not reflect the reality of happenings in the communities mentioned conspicuously in the story. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no such incident in any part of Mangu Local Government Area and the government has not received information about the mass death of animals from any of the communities mentioned in the reports.
“The story is based on hearsay, and there is no credible source that has authenticated the story, which has created tension in the affected communities.
“The government, therefore advises the General public, particularly members of the said communities to disregard the misleading story and assured Plateau people that a team of epidemiologists has been sent to the affected communities on the instruction of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to ascertain the truth of the story to prevent loss of lives.
“However, there are two suspected cases of anthrax disease in two communities in the state. The samples have been taken to National Veterinary Research Institute Vom for thorough assessment and further investigation. While waiting for the outcome, Government would like to make it clear that there was no mass death of 1,000 cows in the mentioned areas as reported in the story”
The statement issued by the Plateau State Government urges the public to be aware that the risk of contracting anthrax disease increases if they come into contact with infected animals, their meat, or hides.
The government has already instructed the Epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health and the Veterinary unit of the Ministry of Agriculture to tackle the situation urgently.
In light of the suspected cases, the public is advised to take certain precautions, including avoiding contact with infected livestock and animal skins whenever possible. Additionally, they should ensure that any meat they consume is thoroughly cooked to minimize the risk of infection. If there is suspicion of a sick animal or person, the authorities should be promptly notified.
While encouraging people to continue their daily activities, the government emphasizes the importance of reporting any unusual signs or activities to the relevant authorities immediately for swift intervention and control measures.
These precautionary measures are essential to safeguard public health and prevent the further spread of the disease within the affected communities.
