Hours after the announcement of the first case of anthrax in Nigeria, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has expressed fear of the disease spreading to other parts of the country before detection.
NCDC’s Executive Director, Ifedayo Adetifa, who sat for an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, July 18, confirmed that the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.
Adetifa also disclosed that the disease was brought to Nigeria from neighbouring countries. He said;
“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.
“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.”
Adetifa warned that animals around the reported farm and beyond that are sick should be reported to human and animal Health authority while the slaughtered and dead ones with clotted blood after being killed should be disposed of or notified immediately.
Signs of anthrax-infected animals include oozing of blood from their body openings – (anus, nose, eyes, and ears), and high fever; In many cases, the sign is not visible and they die suddenly.
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