Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development Anthrax Outbreak Confirmation Sparks Concern – Report

The Confirmation of Anthrax Outbreak In Nigeria by the Federal Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development has sparked alot of reactions from different quarters.
President Bola Tinubu declaring an immediate state of emergency on food insecurity to tackle the increase in the prices of food, which has worsened after some government policies were implemented, have also received mixed reactions as well.
Food security over the years have been a global conversation since the covid-19 era ended due to lockdowns and shudowns of world economy. The war in Ukraine has Exacerbated the situation, however the United Nations has stressed majorly on the impact of climate change as the reason for food shortages in some regions like Asia and Africa.

Threat to Livestocks
Recall that a few weeks ago the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development communicated the risk of incursion of Anthrax into the country, following confirmed outbreaks in Ghana and other countries in West Africa.
Anthrax is major zoonotic disease caused by spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats but can also infect humans, who come into direct contact with infected animals or consume contaminated animal products.
The disease can also be transmitted through contaminated pasture, feed and water. The clinical signs of Anthrax in animals include sudden death and oozing of blood from natural body openings (nose, ear, mouth and anal region).

Rapid Response
Recently, The Ministry’s disease surveillance team reported a suspicion of anthrax in a multi-species animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna express way Suleja LGA Niger state Northern Nigeria.
A Rapid Response Team comprising of Federal and state One-Health professionals visited the farm and conducted detailed disease outbreak investigation.
On the 16th of July 2023, the Ministry received a report of confirmation of anthrax in Niger state, from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI)-Vom, Plateau state, making it the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry and in collaboration with the Niger state government has taken proactive measures to timely control and contain the disease. Such measures include:
Also recall on June 26 the director chief veterinary officer of Nigeria , Dr. Columba Vakuru, during a sensitization workshop in Abuja, stressed on creating awareness and preventive control measures.
Same period a vaccination exercise was held in Kebbi state the second largest livestock population in the country, in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture and rural development.
At the inauguration of the Annual Animals Vaccination exercise at Hutawa, a Fulani settlement near Birnin Kebbi. Governor of Kebbi state, Nasir Idris of Kebbi stated that cattle, sheep and goats would be vaccinated against Contagious diseases.

Dr. Ahmad Umar-Ambursa, Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Animal Health Husbandary and Fisheries, said the programme was being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Department of Verterinary and Pest Control Services.
He said the federal government had provided vaccines for the programme to 36 states of the federation, “Due to the high number of livestock in Kebbi State, its own share of the vaccines will only cover 25 per cent of animals.
“The state has about 10 million livestock comprising cattle, goats and sheep. Three million cattle, 3.357 million goats and 3.115 million sheep.
The major concern for Nigerians and some other countries on the continent already experiencing threats to their livestock industry is…How safe are the Vaccines for Cattles, goat, and sheep? will people reduce consumption of beef and steak, or completely eliminate it from their diet? how will all these affect the already thriving Agriculture sector and emerging economies in Africa?..