Nigeria Confirms First Case of Anthrax
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
The Federal Government has officially confirmed the presence of anthrax in Nigeria, following the detection of the disease on a farm in Niger State.
In a statement released on Monday and obtained by Excel Magazine International, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expressed deep concern over the situation.
Recall it had on June 13th, 2023 alerted the public to the outbreak of anthrax in neighboring countries within the West African sub-region, cautioning Nigerians against consuming hides, commonly known as ponmo, during this period.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted the widespread occurrence of anthrax in northern Ghana, which shares borders with Burkina Faso and Togo.
According to the statement, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development “deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”
It added, “On July 14, 2023, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.
“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes, and ears.”
The FMARD stated that a rapid response team comprising of federal and states’ One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.
“Subsequent laboratory tests by the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years and after the report of an outbreak of anthrax in Northern Ghana a few weeks ago. All animals affected have died,” the ministry stated.
Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.
However, humans can also contract the disease through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, including meat, wool, or hides.
Inhalation of anthrax may occur through the inhalation of spores, while cutaneous anthrax can result from contact with contaminated materials or through open wounds.
