The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has donated free 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the Lagos State government to mitigate the spread of the disease to animals and humans.
Speaking during a visit to state Ministry of Agriculture at Lagos secretariat in Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, urged the state government to enlighten the public on how to prevent and control the disease in the state.
Umakhihe, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Veterinary and Pests Control Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, noted that the donation of the vaccines would fast-track the vaccination of animals against the disease and safeguard the livestock sub-sector.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the permanent secretary noted that Anthrax is an infectious zoonosis disease that is caused by bacteria that affect domestic and wild animals and can also affect humans, especially those working closely with infected animals.
He said the bacteria, which exist as spores, could be found in the soil, wool or hair of infected animals.
Umakhihe noted that animals could be infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plant or water.
According to him, humans can get it when they inhale or breathe in the spores, eat contaminated meat, or come in contact with the skin through wounds or cuts while handling a sick or dead Anthrax-infected animal.
“We have also provided 50,000 free dosages of the Anthrax vaccine to the state in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).
“The cattle merchants and butchers need to know the symptoms and signs of this disease so that they can immediately alert the veterinary authorities,” Umakhihe added.
The permanent secretary stressed the need to mount surveillance in slaughter slabs, abattoirs, livestock markets and at the point of entries across the state to detect the disease early before it spreads.
The Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibironke Emokpae, said vaccinations had begun in the state.
She said the state had set up surveillance and biosecurity at points of view of abattoirs to detect any ailing animal.
“We are collaborating with the Lagos Ministry of Health and promise to put in more efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Lagos State has developed a house-to-house vaccination campaign because it is an urban area where some people do urban farming. Lagos State is taking the vaccination campaign to urban livestock farmers,” Mrs. Emokpae said.
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