The Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration says it is heightening surveillance across territorial borders to guard against the entrance of anthrax.
The alarm is coming following the recent case of anthrax reported in some regions in neighbouring Ghana earlier in June.
The Director of Veterinary at the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT, Dr Regina Adaulugba, said though Nigeria has no single unit case of the disease, the FCT administration is tightening surveillance across control posts of its borders to prevent an outbreak.
Adaulugba, in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, disclosed that the FCTA will soon embark on sensitisation campaigns with herders, butchers and other stakeholders who are at the most risk of contracting the disease.
She said the campaign complies with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to all States to raise awareness of the disease.
“The fear is importing infected animals from neighbouring countries. There is every risk that it could come here so to be on the safe side, we have begun a sensitisation programme already. We did one in Deidei Abattoir where we gathered the butchers and meat handlers because they are the most people at risk. People who trade in animals, people who butcher animals, those who handle them, veterinary doctors, personnel that have anything to do with animals. These are the people most at risk and they are the people who should take proper precautions.
“So we gathered them to let them know, to put them on alert that there’s an outbreak in not too far away countries and our borders are not too tight so they should look out and be careful.”
The Director also asked residents and butchers to avoid buying or selling sick animals or slaughtering them and to report symptoms to veterinary clinics and centres close to them.”
Sensitization workshop
On what the administration has done to reach out to nomadic herders, the Director said the FCT Administration is planning a massive stakeholders meeting and sensitisation workshop.
She said a committee has been set up to work on the modalities of reaching out to them.
“We intend to mass produce flyers and handbills with illustrations and pictures that will show them what to look out for and measures to take to avoid contracting the disease because they are the ones who will lose animals if they don’t take precautions.”
She assured that the Emergency Preparedness Department of the Epidemiology unit is well trained to handle on-the-spot analysis and carry out active and passive surveillance and be ready at all times.”
She advised residents to always call the attention of expert veterinary centres before disposing of sick animals.
Emmanuel
