NCDC Says Anthrax Has Spread To South, North

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday disclosed that Anthrax disease may have spread to the south and other parts of the north.

This is barely 24 hours after the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed the first case of the disease in Niger State.

The first case of the disease outbreak was confirmed on a multi-specie animal farm comprising cattle, sheep, and goats in Suleja.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, the NCDC’s Executive Director, Ifedayo Adetifa, said that the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture 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,” he said.

The NCDC boss said: “Earlier, there were significant movements of animals in the area of the last religious feast. The areas are called down south, and it’s possible that in that region where animals are infected may have made their way into the country.

“Most especially for animals that were brought in across the borders. So, in this context, this is the first animal we have diagnosed its condition with, so there may be other animals with it.”

He lamented that Anthrax may have spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“It is also possible that the disease is currently across the country, and likely other cases that are yet to be notified. But we can only react to what we know,” NCDC DG said.

He warned that animals around the reported farm and beyond that are sick should be reported to the human and animal health authority while the slaughtered and dead ones with clotted blood after being killed should be disposed of or notified immediately.