Health

FG Confirms Anthrax Outbreak In Zamfara

By Alice Etuka, Abuja

The Federal Ministry Of Livestock Development has confirmed the outbreak of Anthrax in a farm in Zamfara State.

This is according to a communique addressed to the Directors of Veterinary Services of the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT by Dr. Adamu Dakogi.

Dakogi explained that Anthrax was a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. It is one of the notifiable diseases by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), which affects a variety of warm – blooded animals including cattle, sheep, goats, horses, wild life and humans. The disease can be transmitted from animals to humans with high degree of morbidity and mortality.

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The communique read in part:

“The clinical signs and symptoms of the disease include: fever, coughing, vomiting, headache, itching, nausea, diarrhoea, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and haemorrhages from major openings. However, the disease is preventable through coordinated risk assessment and survey as weil as ring vaccination of the susceptible animals in high risk areas.

“In view of the above, it has become imperative for all stakeholders especially, those states bordering Zamfara state to be on full alert and monitor situation of the disease. In addition, you are expected to create awareness, activate your Rapid Response Team, communicate the risk, and strengthen disease surveillance activities in your states”.

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