The Federal Government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders has flagged off free vaccination against anthrax to ensure safety of livestock as well as prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected animals and human.
According to a statement signed by Chief Information Officer, Mrs Eremah Anthonia, for the Director, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, stated this recently in Niger State, saying FG has deployed 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the State for the commencement of mass vaccination of all livestock within 12 kilometres radius of the farm where the disease was first diagnosed.
Umakhihe, who was represented by the Deputy Director Veterinary and Pests Control Services, Dr. Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, at the Emir’s palace with his team to sympathy over the unfortunate diagnosis of Anthrax disease in Niger State recently, said anthrax is an infectious zoonosis disease, caused by bacteria affects both domestic and wild animals and can also affect human especially those working closely with infected animals.
He said plans are underway to carry out a free anthrax vaccination campaign on other States.
According to him, “We have also placed restrictions of movement on animals within the farm where the outbreak occurred for the next 20 days from the date of the onset of the outbreak.
“This is to ensure that if these animals are infected, they do not infect other animals around them, the farm, its equipment and surroundings will also be thoroughly disinfected while the Ministry will also mount surveillance in slaughter slabs, abattoirs and livestock market around the farm and similar locations in the country to detect the disease early before it spread”, he added.
In his remarks, the Emir of Suleja, His Royal Highness, Mallam Muhammad Awwal commended the FG for its prompt response noting that the outbreak of the disease in his domain came as a shock to him and his Council members; however, he assured of their readiness collaborate with the government to curtail the disease and have deployed some health workers to join the team.
