On Monday, the Nigerian Federal Government officially confirmed the first instance of anthrax in the country, revealing that the disease had been identified on a farm in Niger State.
According to reports, the Federal Government issued a public alert regarding the outbreak of anthrax in neighboring countries within the West African sub-region.
As a precautionary measure, Nigerians were advised to refrain from consuming hides, commonly referred to as ponmo, for the time being.
The Federal Government specifically highlighted the prevalence of the disease in northern Ghana, which shares borders with Burkina Faso and Togo.
Additionally, the government assured the Nigerian population that it would provide regular updates on the progress of the disease.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that it was “deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”
It added, “On July 14, 2023, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.
“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.”
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) announced that a prompt response team, consisting of professionals from both federal and state levels known as the One Health Professional Team, visited the farm to carry out initial investigations. During their visit, they gathered samples from the affected animals for further examination.
“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 and after the report of an outbreak of anthrax in Northern Ghana a few weeks ago. All animals affected have died,” the ministry stated.
Anthrax is a disease caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, which forms spores. This disease primarily impacts animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.
However, humans can also be infected if they come into direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, including meat, wool, or hides.
Inhalation anthrax can occur when a person breathes in the spores, while cutaneous anthrax can result from contact with contaminated materials or through open wounds.
“This includes quarantine of the affected farm, deployment of anthrax spore vaccines to the affected and adjoining farms to vaccinate in-contact animals, and educating the farm workers of the affected farms on symptoms, preventive measures, and what to do when they encounter suspected cases.
“Plans are also underway to conduct nationwide vaccination of cattle, sheep, and goats against anthrax. Surveillance of anthrax will be heightened in livestock farms, markets and abattoirs. Public awareness campaigns on anthrax will be intensified,” the FMARD stated.
The ministry emphasized the importance of livestock owners maintaining a state of alertness and reporting any unusual signs of illness or deaths among their animals promptly. It also advised them to avoid coming into contact with sick or deceased animals and their byproducts.
Furthermore, the ministry urged caution when purchasing animals, particularly cows, camels, sheep, goats, and other livestock, from Nigerian states that share borders with Benin, Chad, and Niger. Additionally, it advised being vigilant when acquiring animals from Ghana and Togo through waterways.
