July 14, 2023

Nigeria's senate calls for anthrax vaccination of livestock nationwide

Nigeria's senate has called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the ministry of agriculture and rural development and the ministry of health to urgently embark on a nationwide vaccination of livestock with an anthrax spore vaccine.

The senate made the resolution on July 12 after a motion was adopted.

In June, the federal government warned Nigerians against the consumption of hide (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat due to the outbreak of anthrax in neighbouring countries.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria, Bacillus anthracis. It typically affects ruminants such as cows, sheep and goats. It is transmissible from contaminated animals to humans.

According to a lawmaker, a report had indicated that 30 animals have died, with three human deaths recorded and 13 cases tested positive for the disease in Ghana as of June. The senator said that, although Nigeria had yet to record any suspected or confirmed cases, the outbreak in Ghana poses a serious public health risk to the country due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease.

In its resolutions, the senate called upon the ministry of information to start intensive awareness campaigns to keep Nigerians aware on the outbreak of the disease, symptoms for early detection and prevention guidelines.

- The Cable