News in brief: The Nigerian government has conducted a sensitisation workshop to raise awareness about the anthrax outbreak in neighboring West African countries. It has suggested precautionary measures like avoiding contact with infected animals and practicing proper hygiene.
The Nigerian government has sensitised butchers, livestock dealers, and the general public about the fresh anthrax outbreak in certain neighbouring countries within West African.
Anthrax is a bacterial infection that occurs naturally in soil and affects domestic and wild animals. People can get it too if they come in contact with infected animals. It manifests in symptoms like blisters, dark scabs, small bumps, or ulcers on the skin. Also, it can cause respiratory distress or shortness of breath as well as cough, headache, itching, nausea, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a sensitisation workshop at the Karu abattoir and the livestock market in Dei Dei, Abuja, on the issue. Speaking at the event, the Director/Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVO), Columba Vakuru, represented by Dupe Hambolu, Risk Assessment and Communication Focal Point, said that the essence of the programme was to create awareness on the preventive and control measures to tackle the scourge of anthrax.
The ministry representative first allayed fears, noting that Nigeria is yet to record a case. It stressed that the deadly disease exists as spores in wool, hair or stool of infected animals. Humans can get it through inhaling infected spores or ingesting or handling infected animals. The CVO added that infected animals can die suddenly within two or three hours of infection without showing signs of the sickness.
Hambolu urged the public to avoid buying or selling sick animals, wear preventive clothing like face masks, work clothes and boots when in contact with animals. Also, they should wash their hands regularly with soap after animal contact.
Nigeria’s borders proximity with countries that have recorded cases of anthrax, like Ghana, poses a significant risk factor that could re-introduction the disease.
The agriculture ministry, however, intimated the public about precautions that the government is putting in place to forestall an eruption of the disease in the country. These measures include establishing a National Anthrax Technical Working Group (TWG), an incident action plan, and disseminating information through press releases .
Hambolu encouraged the general public to be on the lookout for any suspected anthrax case and to report observed cases in animals to prevent spread of the disease to unaffected animals and humans.
