The Nigerian government has warned against slaughtering sick animals for Eid-el-Adha to prevent an anthrax outbreak in the country.
According to a public health notice signed jointly by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria is at high risk of importing the disease from Ghana, where it has been confirmed in both humans and animals since June 1.
Although Nigeria has yet to record any suspected or confirmed cases, the government stressed that the outbreak in Ghana poses a great risk to Nigerian public health due to “the dangerous and highly communicable nature of the disease.”
Anthrax is a serious bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats,
However, the government has outlined preventative measures for Nigerians and ranchers to reduce the potential risk of infection and the spread of anthrax.
Precautionary measures
The government advised Nigerians to avoid all non-essential travel to the northern region of Ghana, especially the Upper East region, where the outbreak was reported.
He noted that Nigerians should be careful when buying cattle, from the border states with Benin, Chad and Niger, and from Ghana and Togo via waterways, adding that rams or cattle to be slaughtered over the festive period should be carefully watched for signs of disease earlier. slaughter
For farmers, he advised vaccination of animals as the most effective preventive measure against anthrax.
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He added that livestock owners should wear personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, goggles, boots) when handling sick animals and avoid culling sick animals.
“Immediately report cases of animals bleeding from body openings to veterinary authorities or agricultural extension workers,” he said.
Anthrax symptoms
The bacterium, which exists as spores, can be found in the soil, wool or hair of infected animals, according to the NCDC, adding that it affects humans through eating and direct contact with infected animals and breathing in the spores. which is “the deadliest form of the disease”.
He noted that symptoms in animals include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, bleeding from all body openings (nose, mouth, ears, anus, etc.), swelling and difficulty breathing, and bloody diarrhea.
Also in humans, the NCDC explained that depending on the route of infection, anthrax can cause fever, painless skin sores with a black center that appears after the blisters, general weakness of the body, and difficulty breathing.
He added that it can also cause a serious digestive illness that resembles food poisoning.