Abuja, July 17 (Mediaage NG) – Nigeria’s Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the outbreak of Anthrax symptoms of the disease was discovered in a farm in Gajiri, along the Abuja-Kaduna highway in Niger state.
The farm has been placed under quarantine with dozens of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry on it. 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccine have been sent to the area.
As well as affecting livestock animals, humans can also be infected when they come into direct contact with infected animals or consume products from them. Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis and largely survives as spores that hide away in soil for years before entering an animal through a cut or wound.
Signs of anthrax in animals include sudden death and bleeding from the nose, mouth and anal region. It can be treated with antibiotics but treatment needs to start soon after infection. No human exposure has been reported so far.
The Nigerian government has encouraged livestock owners, farmers and the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of the disease. It also urged farmers to avoid slaughtering sick animals as this could expose people to anthrax spores.
Many communities, mostly in northern Nigeria, depend on livestock farming and herding for their livelihoods, supplying meat to the rest of the country.