By Juliet Jacob Ochenje
The Federal Government, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, on Tuesday flagged off free vaccination against anthrax to ensure safety of livestock and prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected animals and human.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Veterinary and Pests Control Services, Dr. Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, said this in Niger State where he led his team in a sympathy visit over the unfortunate diagnosis of Anthrax disease recently.
According to Dr. Umakhihe, 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. To mitigate the effect therefore, the Federal Government 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.
Dr. Umakhihe revealed that plans were underway to carry out a free anthrax vaccination campaign on other States.
“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,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary solicited for the cooperation of the people to enable the team (one health concept) carry out all necessary activities to put the outbreak under control, revealing that all in-contact persons have been placed on prophylactic treatment and are being monitored closely.
