Senate calls for nationwide vaccination of livestock against anthrax

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

The senate on Wednesday made the resolution after a motion sponsored by Ezenwa Francis, senator representing Imo east, was adopted.

Francis had moved the motion titled, “Call to address the low level of awareness and preparedness to prevent the outbreak of anthrax in Nigeria” to call for action against the infection.

In June, the federal government warned Nigerians against the consumption of hide (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat due to the outbreak of anthrax disease 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 a zoonotic disease — transmissible from contaminated animals to humans.

Humans can get infected if they handle or are involved in the slaughter of a sick animal, or are in contact with contaminated animal products.

The lawmaker said a report had indicated that 30 animals have died, three human deaths recorded and 13 cases tested positive for the disease in Ghana as of June.

“Cognisant of the fact that though anthrax is primarily a disease of animals, non-vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily transmit it to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated/infected animal products such as hides and skin, meat or milk,” he said.

The senator said although Nigeria had yet to record any suspected or confirmed cases, the outbreak in Ghana poses a great public health risk to the country due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease.

He expressed concern over Nigeria’s low level of preparedness and awareness, noting that a good number of citizens are ignorant of how the disease is transmitted, or the risk it portends.

He said it is worrisome that no nationwide livestock vaccination exercise against anthrax as a means to prevent it from infiltrating the country, has been announced by the federal government.

The senate in its resolutions, asked the ministry of information to begin intensive awareness campaigns to sensitise Nigerians on the outbreak of the disease, symptoms for early detection, and prevention guidelines.