Lagos commences vaccination of animals over Anthrax disease

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To combat the spread of Anthrax disease in the state, the Lagos State Government’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched free vaccinations of domesticated animals.

The Lagos Ministry of Agriculture’s Permanent Secretary, Olatokunbo Emokpae, revealed this in a statement on Friday, saying the ministry had also increased the state’s surveillance of abattoirs and slaughter slabs.

“Members of the public must not go near or touch animals suspected to have contracted the disease,” the statement read.

“The state government solicits the cooperation of animal owners as Veterinary Personnel vaccinate animals.”

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. It affects domesticated animals such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats, and wild animals.

According to Emokpae, the the vaccination of domesticated animals, free of charge, would also be conducted alongside the inspection exercise. She said symptoms of the Anthrax disease in infected animals included sudden death and and bleeding from natural orifices – mouth, ear, nose, anus and vulva, in female animals.

The government official stated that the blood discharge is usually dark, and the dead animal will disintegrate quickly.