The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has urged Nigerians to exercise caution following the reported case of anthrax disease in the country.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Agnes Asagbra who made the call in a statement in Abuja, said that there have been reports of animals exhibiting symptoms of a potential case of anthrax at Gajiri along the Abuja-Kaduna motorway in Suleja LGA, Niger State, where some of the animals showed symptoms including blood flowing from their body openings, including their noses, eyes, ears and mouths.
According to Dr, Asagbra, “The case appened on a multi-species farm with cattle, sheep and goats on the said farm.”
She noted that the federal government sent a response team to visit the farm and take samples for testing of which the results has been confirmed to be positive, making this the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years.
Dr Asagba urged the general public to avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals especially those exhibiting symptoms associated with anthrax.
She called on the Nigerian farmers, herders, and individuals involved in animal husbandry to take extra care and seek veterinary assistance if they suspect any signs of illness in their livestock.
“NBMA is imploring all stakeholders in the food and agricultural industry to prioritize safety measures and adhere to biosafety regulations in order to safeguard the health of our citizens,” She said.
The DG NBMA added that the Agency remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of all Nigerians and urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of anthrax or contaminated animal products to the nearest medical center.
“It is crucial for all Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, adhering to these precautionary measures, we can collectively mitigate the risks associated with the anthrax outbreak and protect both animal and human health,” She added.
The Agency had on the 13th of June 2023, issued a warning to Nigerians about Anthrax, a potentially fatal disease that can be contracted from infected animals or through contaminated products after receiving report of an anthrax outbreak in Northern Ghana where all infected animals had died.
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium which mainly affects livestock particularly cattle, sheep and goats.
Human beings can also become infected through contact with an infected animal or by inhaling spores.
