House Calls For Urgent Action Against Outbreak of Anthrax Disease 

The Nigerian House of assembly has urged the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to commence awareness campaign programme to curtail the outbreak of Anthrax.

This followed the adoption of an urgent motion on ” the Need to Prevent the Spread Anthrax Disease moved by Hon Adamu Tanko, APC, Niger,

The House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in implementing effective surveillance, vaccination, and awareness campaigns to contain the outbreak and provide adequate resources and support to affected communities, including compensation for losses incurred due to the outbreak.

Further spread

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

The lawmakers mandated the Committees on Agricultural Production and Services | and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to monitor compliance

Honourable Tanko while leading debate on the motion said ” Note the report of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concerning the presence of anthrax in Nigeria. Also motes, the laboratory test conducted on the collected samp es by the Navonal Veterinary Research Institute, which confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm located in Gayin village along the Abuja Expressway, Suleija, Niger State; Aware that similar cases of the diseases were confirmed in Northem Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo with symptoms, including sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings (nose, ear, mouth, and anal region) and spread through affected livestock, bush meat, and contaminated environments, Concerned over the potential spread of the disease to other livestock farms in the country and its possible impact on public health.

He also noted that “Worried that Anthrax may affect humans it has direct contact with affected animals and contaminated products, with potential inhalation through spores or wounds.

Public precautions

recognised the urgent 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 such as strict surveillance and monitoring of livestock farms.

He also called for proper disposal of infected animals and contaminated materials; acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in promptly addressing the issue by implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of Anthrax and protect both livestock and human health.

The Ministry of Agriculture had recently announced the presence of the animal-infested epidemic in Nigeria.

Lateefah Ibrahim