The Anthrax disease may have spread to the south and other regions of the north, according to information released on Tuesday by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
This is barely 24 hours after the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed the first case of the disease in Niger State.
On a farm in Suleja with cattle, sheep, and goats, the first case of the disease outbreak was identified.
Ifedayo Adetifa, the executive director of the NCDC, claimed during an interview on Channels Television that the Ministry of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer had been informed about animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on 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,” he said.
The NCDC boss said: “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,” NCDC DG said.
He cautioned that sick animals around the reported farm and beyond should be reported to the human and animal health authority, and that animals that have been killed and are dead with clotted blood should be disposed of or reported right away.
Ada Peter
