TheNewsGuru

Tag: Anthrax

  • FG alerts public to Anthrax outbreak

    FG alerts public to Anthrax outbreak

    The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of Anthrax, a zoonotic disease, in Zamfara.

    Mr Ben Goong, Director, Information and Public Relations Department in the ministry, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that the outbreak occurred in a farm in Zamfara.

    Anthrax is an infection caused by bacterium Bacillus anthracis that can affect warm-blooded animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses and wildlife as well as humans with potential high morbidity and mortality.

    The disease could be spread through contact with the bacterium’s spores which often appear in infectious animal products or by-products.

    Its symptoms include fever, coughing, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, headaches, itching and bleeding from major openings.

    Goong called on stakeholders as well as  states bordering Zamfara to take immediate steps to prevent further spread of the disease.

    He urged stakeholders to heighten vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate risks associated with the disease.

    “We urge the public to remain vigilant, report any unusual illnesses in animals or humans and adhere to all preventive guidelines issued by relevant authorities.

    “While Anthrax is preventable through coordinated efforts such as risk assessment, surveys and ring vaccination of susceptible animals in high-risk areas, prompt detection and response are critical to containing its spread.

    “The ministry remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure a swift and effective response,” he said.

  • Anthrax scare: FCTA begins mass vaccination of cattle to curb spread

    Anthrax scare: FCTA begins mass vaccination of cattle to curb spread

    The Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, began a four-week mass vaccination of cattle to curb the spread of Anthrax in the FCT.

    The acting Secretary of the secretariat, Alhaji Ishaq Sadeeq, inaugurated the exercise in Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

    According to him, the mass vaccination exercise is targeting at least one million cattle across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

    Sadeeq explained that the move became necessary following the confirmation of the disease in Suleja, Niger, one of the neighbouring states of the federal capital.

    He thanked the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, for approving the purchase of one million doses of the vaccine, which scientists have identified as the most effective way of preventing the disease.

    He said that the vaccination exercise, which would last four weeks, would be carried out simultaneously across the 62 wards of the six Area Councils of the FCT.

    He explained that the exercise was part of the FCT Administration’s proactiveness and readiness to combat the disease.

    “The FCT Administration had since the announcement of the outbreak in Ghana earlier this year, carried out a series of outreach campaigns to sensitise residents, particularly livestock owners and butchers, about Anthrax disease.

    “The sensitisation was to avail them with the knowledge of signs and symptoms, as well as effective measures they can adopt to protect themselves and their animals from contracting and spreading the disease,” he said.

    He appealed for the co-operation of livestock owners with the veterinary health workers, to ensure the success of the exercise.

    He equally advised livestock owners against selling or slaughtering any animal with visible symptoms of the disease, and report suspected cases to any of the FCT Veterinary Clinics.

    “While our veterinary personnel have been put on alert to attend to any emergency cases, we will be working closely with the Health and Human Services Secretariat to attend to human cases involving livestock owners,” he added.

    The Director of Veterinary Services, FCT, Dr Regina Adulugba, described Anthrax as a “fatal disease” to both animal and humans, which can be contracted through open wounds, airborne and from consuming infected animals.

    Adulugba said, “the best protection against the disease is vaccinating the animals and that is what we are here to do.

    “It is deadly because it is zoonotic. Zoonotic means it can affect human and it can affect animals. So, it is dangerous, and it spreads by too many means.

    “If you have a wounded skin, it can affect the wound and then infect the person, or it can spread even through the air, or it can spread from consumption of meat.

    “That is why we advised them not to slaughter any sick animal for now. If an animal is sick, they should allow it to die and then we see if it is positive.

    “It is safer for them as cattle owners, their children and their families, because it can affect human and it is very deadly in human as it is deadly in animals.”

    On his part, Malam Yahaya Isa, Chairman, Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), FCT Chapter, commended the FCTA for the proactive step.

    Isa, who is also the Deputy National Secretary of the association, said that the move would not only protect livestock against the disease, but also save investment and human lives.

    He commended the FCTA for being the first to take such a proactive step in the country to prevent further spread of the disease.

    “The entire Fulani herders’ community are happy and are fully prepared to comply with arrangement.

    “Our people are ready to cooperate with the officials everywhere. We have even mobilised in each area council, some group of youths to back them up wherever they are going,” he said.

  • Anthrax: MACBAN urges pastoralists to avoid Niger, Burkina Faso borders

    Anthrax: MACBAN urges pastoralists to avoid Niger, Burkina Faso borders

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has urged herders to avoid taking their animals to the Niger Republic and Burkina Faso borders in their quest for green pasture in order to curtail the spread of anthrax disease.

    The National President of the association, Baba Ngelzarma, said
    that since Ghana, where the first case of the anthrax disease was recorded earlier in the year, shares a boundary with Burkina Faso, it would not be difficult for it to get to Niger Republic, which shares a boundary with Yobe State.

    According to him, “You know Yobe shares borders with Niger Republic. We hereby call on the attention of all states that are sharing borders with Niger Republic to take proactive measures so that we don’t cause a crisis.

    “The first case of the disease occurred in Ghana. Burkina Faso shares borders with Ghana and also with Niger. With the movements of pastoralists, if this thing goes to one country like Burkina Faso, it can easily come into Nigeria.

    “We have already spoken to our branches in those states to draw their attention to their state government to take immediate proactive measures to forestall any emergency.”

    On Saturday, cases of the disease were recorded in two communities in Plateau State, causing some residents in Benue to panic.

    The state government disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, and made available to journalists.

    Ngelzarma, in an interview with the punch on Sunday, said the association was taking all necessary measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the country, adding that herders must take precautions to make sure they do not go across borders indiscriminately for their grazing needs.

    He said, “We call on all our branches in the 36 states to be on alert. We have also organised sensitisation programmes for our members on how to detect this disease.

    “We are speaking to our members in Benue to safeguard their borders as we have learnt that the disease is in Plateau. We will not take any chances. Anthrax is a deadly disease.

    “The FCT has taken measures to procure vaccination against the disease occurrence in the FCT. The Yobe State government has also released some money to get some vaccination.”

  • Boiling your meat well does not kill anthrax, expert cautions Nigerians

    Boiling your meat well does not kill anthrax, expert cautions Nigerians

    Dr Obi Ogar, Director, Veterinary Services, Cross River Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has disclosed that well boiled meat does not prevent one from contracting anthrax after consumption.

    Ogar made this disclosure in a chat in Calabar.

    He was reacting to claims in some quarters that boiling meat properly could kill the pathogen that causes anthrax.

    Anthrax is a deadly bacterial and zoonotic disease caused by a bacterium called bacillus anthracis. It also occurs primarily in cattles, sheep, goats and could affect other animals.

    He said the bacterium could only be destroyed using heat through the process of incineration, which will burn the substance to ashes.

    He said while disposing of an animal that dies of anthrax, it should be done in a very deep grave after which disinfectant and chemical should be poured on the carcass before covering to prevent any escape.

    “This organism is not killed by the heat from our kitchens but from incineration, thereby burning the substance to ashes which renders the meat of no use to the owner,” he said.

    Ogar said the public should desist from eating bush meat for the time being because the disease is zoonotic and could also affect animals in the wild.

    He advised Nigerians to buy their meat from approved meat markets and not from roadsides because no one could guarantee where they get their meat from.

    TNG recalls that few weeks ago, anthrax was reported in some neighboring West African countries and just last week, it was reported in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria.

  • Deceased infected by anthrax should be burnt – NCDC

    Deceased infected by anthrax should be burnt – NCDC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the ideal method of disposing of an anthrax carcass is incineration.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports incineration is the destruction of something, especially waste material, by burning.

    The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, stressing that where this method was not possible, deep burial was the alternative.

    Recall that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Monday, officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country.

    A statement signed by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Columba Vakuru, said animals were showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

    He said that it was reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14, 2023.

    According to Adetifa, livestock farmers should in the disposal of anthrax infected carcass, ensure that the pit is 6–8 feet, two mitre deep – the bottom of which should be well above the water table (minimum 3 feet (0.9 m ).

    “Considering the water table level and soil composition clay soil is preferable, whereas, sand or gravel should be avoided,” he advised.

    Adetifa said that anthrax was a contagious and highly fatal zoonotic bacterial disease affecting primarily herbivores.

    He said that the clinical symptoms seen in animals infected with anthrax included high fever at the start of the infection, then restlessness, convulsions, and death.

    “Not infrequently, livestock die suddenly without clinical symptoms.

    “Some easily spotted clinical symptoms include bleeding from the orifices, such as ears, nose, and mouth,” he said.

    He said that mortality can be very high, especially in herbivores.

    He said that the disease has a worldwide distribution and was a zoonosis.

    “The etiological agent is the endospore-forming, Gram-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped Bacillus anthracic. And has an almost worldwide distribution.

    “Once introduced into an area, anthrax is maintained in the environment by resistant spores that may remain dormant in the soil for many years.

    “Spores are more likely to persist in areas with ideal soil conditions alkaline, calcium-rich,” he said.

    According to him, Anthrax is a re-emerging infection and consequently, endemic areas may provide additional sources of alternative strains of B. anthracic for bioterrorism placing global security at renewed risk.

    He urged livestock farmers to report suspected cases of the disease at their livestock farms, cattle markets and other areas with the aforementioned symptoms of Anthtax.

    He said that Nigerians should be vigilant and report any unusual happenings, such as sickness or sudden death of animals on their farms.

    He advised animal owners to intensify efforts on annual vaccination of their animals and proper disposal of infected dead animals by burying them deep in the soil after applying disinfectant chemicals.

    The NCDC boss advised Nigerians to refrain from consuming the meat of livestock infected with anthrax.

    “This is because boiling the meat for hours will not kill the bacteria.

    “Once the spore is inhaled, people usually experience death within 24 hours,” he advised.

    He said that all of these infectious diseases have emphasised the importance of hand washing with soap to reduce the spread of diseases.

    He said that the majority of germs that caused serious infections in humans were transmitted by people’s actions.

    He said that the promotion of hand hygiene was one of the cost-effective public health interventions for the prevention and control of infections, particularly those caused by epidemic-prone pathogens.

    According to him, it is important for Nigerians, particularly nurses, doctors, and healthcare technicians, who are in direct contact with people, to practise hand hygiene practices to avoid being infected by any type of disease whatsoever.

    The World Health Organisation explains anthrax to be primarily a zoonotic disease in herbivores caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis.

    The bacteria live in the soil and usually infect wild and domestic animals, such as goats, cattle and sheep.

    Anthrax outbreaks are fairly common worldwide and mostly affect agricultural workers.

    Humans become sick with the disease by handling animal products such as wool, hide or bone from animals infected with the anthrax bacterium.

  • Fear as Reps urge FG to curb spread of anthrax in Nigeria

    Fear as Reps urge FG to curb spread of anthrax in Nigeria

    There was palpable fear on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers deliberated on the recent outbreak of Anthrax in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the outbreak of Anthrax was discovered in a farm at Gajiri Village, in Niger State.

    The House in its resolution directed relevant government agencies to arrest the outbreak.

    This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep Adamu Tanko (PDP-Niger) on the floor  of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.

    In the motion, Tank noted that the report of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concerning the presence of anthrax in Nigeria was disturbing.

    He said the laboratory test conducted on the collected samples by the Navonal Veterinary Research Institute, confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm.

    He said similar cases of the diseases were confirmed in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo with symptoms, including sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings

    These include: nose, ear, mouth, and anal region and spread through affected livestock, bush meat, and contaminated environments.

    He expressed concern over the potential spread of the disease to other livestock farms in the country and its possible impact on public health,

    He said Anthrax might affect humans in direct contact with affected animals and contaminated products, with potential inhalation, through spores or wounds.

    He said there was need for proactive measures to prevent spread of Anthrax in Nigeria and protect the health and livelihoods citizens by placing public health precautions in place.

    He called for strict surveillance and monitoring of livestock farms, as well proper disposal of infected animals and contaminated materials.

    He commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in addressing the issue.

    This according to him was by implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of Anthrax and protect both livestock and human health.

    Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in implementing effective surveillance, vaccination.

    Others include awareness campaigns to contain the outbreak and provide adequate resources and support to affected communities, including compensation for losses incurred due to the outbreak.

    The House also urged the National Centre for Disease Control to put in place measures that will stop the further spread of anthrax.

    The House also  mandated the committees on Agricultural Production and Services | and Legislative Compliance when constituted to monitor.

    The Federal Government confirmed the first case of Anthrax in Nigeria after disclosing on Monday that the disease was detected in a farm in Niger State.

    Making this known in a statement, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it “is deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”

    It added that “On July 14, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger.

    “The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes and ears.

    “A Rapid Response team comprising of federal and state One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.

    NCDC reveals ideal method of disposing anthrax carcass

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed the ideal method of disposing of an anthrax carcass is incineration.

    The Director-General of  NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, stressing that where this method was not possible, deep burial was the alternative.

    The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Monday, officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country.

    A statement signed by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Columba Vakuru, said animals were showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

    He said that it was reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14, 2023.

    According to Adetifa, livestock farmers in the disposal of anthrax infected carcass, they should ensure that the pit is 6–8 feet, two mitre deep – the bottom of which should be well above the water table (minimum 3 feet (0.9 m ).

    “Considering the water table level and soil composition clay soil is preferable, whereas, sand or gravel should be avoided,” he advised.

    Adetifa said that anthrax was a contagious and highly fatal zoonotic bacterial disease affecting primarily herbivores.

    He said that the clinical symptoms seen in animals infected with anthrax included high fever at the start of the infection, then restlessness, convulsions, and death.

    “Not infrequently, livestock die suddenly without clinical symptoms.

    “Some easily spotted clinical symptoms include bleeding from the orifices, such as ears, nose, and mouth,” he said.

    He said that mortality can be very high, especially in herbivores.

    He said that the disease has a worldwide distribution and was a zoonosis.

    “The etiological agent is the endospore-forming, Gram-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped Bacillus anthracic. And has an almost worldwide distribution.

    “Once introduced into an area, anthrax is maintained in the environment by resistant spores that may remain dormant in the soil for many years.

    “Spores are more likely to persist in areas with ideal soil conditions alkaline, calcium-rich,” he said.

    According to him, Anthrax is a re-emerging infection and consequently, endemic areas may provide additional sources of alternative strains of B. anthracic for bioterrorism placing global security at renewed risk.

    He urged livestock farmers to report suspected cases of the disease at their livestock farms, cattle markets and other areas with the aforementioned symptoms of Anthtax.

    He said that Nigerians should be vigilant and report any unusual happenings, such as sickness or sudden death of animals on their farms.

    He advised animal owners to intensify efforts on annual vaccination of their animals and proper disposal of infected dead animals by burying them deep in the soil after applying disinfectant chemicals.

    The NCDC boss advised Nigerians to refrain from consuming the meat of livestock infected with anthrax.

    “This is because boiling the meat for hours will not kill the bacteria.

    “Once the spore is inhaled, people usually experience death within 24 hours,” he advised.

    He said that all of these infectious diseases have emphasised the importance of hand washing with soap to reduce the spread of diseases.

    He said that the majority of germs that caused serious infections in humans were transmitted by people’s actions.

    He said that the promotion of hand hygiene was one of the cost-effective public health interventions for the prevention and control of infections, particularly those caused by epidemic-prone pathogens.

    According to him, it is important for Nigerians, particularly nurses, doctors, and healthcare technicians, who are in direct contact with people, to practise hand hygiene practices to avoid being infected by any type of disease whatsoever.

    The World Health Organisation explains anthrax to be  primarily a zoonotic disease in herbivores caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis.

    The bacteria live in the soil and usually infect wild and domestic animals, such as goats, cattle and sheep.

    Anthrax outbreaks are fairly common worldwide and mostly affect agricultural workers.

    Humans become sick with the disease by handling animal products such as wool, hide or bone from animals infected with the anthrax bacterium.

  • Anthrax: What to know about the disease and implication on ‘ponmo’

    Anthrax: What to know about the disease and implication on ‘ponmo’

    The Federal Government has alerted the public on the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries within the West African sub-region.

    Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Dr Umakhihe said that the affected countries are, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.

    Umakhihe said that the disease which had claimed some lives is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man.

    According to the statement, anthrax can easily be transmitted to humans through the inhalation of anthrax spores and it could also be transmitted through consumption of contaminated or infected animal products, including ponmo.

    He said that Anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals.

    Umakhihe said that people could get infected with Anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

    He said that the disease is not contagious one  cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

    ”Signs of anthrax  are, flu- like symptoms,  such as cough, fever and muscle aches,“ he said.

    He said that  if not diagnosed and treated early, it will lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death.

    The permanent secretary said that anthrax being a bacterial disease, responds to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy.

    ”It is primarily a disease of animals but because of man’s closeness to animals, non vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores.

    ”It could also be through  consumption of contaminated or infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk,” he said.

    He said annual vaccinations with anthrax spores are available at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau .

    He said  that it is the cheapest and easiest means of prevention and control of the disease in animals, adding that infected animals cannot be vaccinated, but animals at risk can be vaccinated.

    ”There is a  need to intensify animal vaccinations along border States of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, because of their proximity to Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana,” he said.

    Umakhihe urged other states in Nigeria to join in the exercise to prevent the spread of the disease.

    He advised that infected dead animals should be buried deep into the soil, with equipment used in the burial after applying chemicals that would kill the anthrax spores.

    “The public is strongly advised to desist from the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose serious risk until the situation is brought under control,” he said.

    Umakhihe urged the public to remain calm and vigilant as the Federal Government has resuscitated a Standing Committee on the control of Anthrax.

    He said that relevant institutions and collaborators have been contacted with the aim of controlling the outbreak.

    “This is in addition to the sensitisation of State Directors of Veterinary Services nationwide,” he said.