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The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has confirmed an outbreak of anthrax on a farm in Zamfara State and called for heightened vigilance and immediate measures to contain the disease.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ben Goong.
“Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a zoonotic disease that can affect various warm-blooded animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and wildlife, as well as humans. It is listed as a notifiable disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health due to its potential to cause high morbidity and mortality,” Goong said.
The ministry outlined symptoms of anthrax, including fever, coughing, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, itching, and bleeding from major openings. Immediate detection and intervention were emphasised as key to curbing its spread.
“While anthrax is preventable through coordinated efforts such as risk assessment, surveys, and ring vaccination of susceptible animals in high-risk areas, prompt detection and response are critical to containing its spread,” the statement read.
The ministry urged neighbouring states to take precautionary measures.
“We call on stakeholders, especially states bordering Zamfara, to take immediate steps to prevent further spread of the disease,” it stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling the outbreak, the ministry said, “The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure a swift and effective response.”
