By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has donated 50,000 free doses of Anthrax vaccines to the Lagos State Government (LASG) to mitigate the spread of the Anthrax Disease to animals and humans and ensure the safety of the livestock sub-sector.
Speaking during the courtesy visit to the state’s Ministry of Agriculture recently, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, represented by the Deputy Director of Veterinary and Pests Control Services, Dr Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, said that donation of the vaccines would fast track the vaccination.
He stated that anthrax, an infectious zoonosis disease caused by bacteria, affects both domestic and wild animals and can also affect humans, especially those working closely with infected animals.
He pointed out that the bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals.
He added that animals can be infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plant, or water. And humans can get it when they inhale or breathe in the spores, eat contaminated meat, or come in contact with the skin through wounds or cuts while handling a sick or dead anthrax-infected animal.
Dr Umakhihe appealed to the Lagos state government for robust public awareness and sensitization engagement among stakeholders towards prevention and control of the disease in the state.
In his words, “The essence of our visit is to create awareness and sensitization among stakeholders in the prevention and control of disease in Nigeria.
“We have also provided 50,000 free dosages of the Anthrax vaccine to the state in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
“The cattle merchants and butchers need to know the symptoms and signs of this disease so that they can immediately alert the veterinary authorities, he added.
He emphasized the need to mount surveillance in slaughter slabs, abattoirs, livestock markets, and at the point of entry in the state to detect the disease early before it spreads.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ibironke Emokpae, appreciated FMARD for its support in curtailing the spread of the disease in the state, saying, “Vaccinations have begun in the state, and we have set up surveillance and biosecurity at point of the entire of abattoirs in Lagos to detect any ailing animal.
“We are collaborating with the Lagos Ministry of Health and promise to put in more efforts to prevent the spread of the disease,”
Mrs Emokpae further revealed that “Lagos State has developed a house-to-house vaccination campaign because it is an urban area where some people do urban farming. Lagos State is taking the vaccination campaign to urban livestock farmers’’.
While on a sensitisation visit to the Oko-Oba cattle market and abattoir in Agege, the Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Association, Mr Abdullahi Lalega, pledged the commitment of the Cattle Merchants and Butchers towards the fight against the disease.
He affirmed that they were aware of the disease and would ensure adherence to safety measures, promising to give all necessary support to ensure that the disease is curtailed.
On his part, the FAO Country Team Leader, Dr Otto Muhinda, commended the state government for its initiatives in creating awareness of the disease and prevention measures.
He added that “We have seen that the awareness is very high; we appreciate the way the people, local authorities, butchers, and the cattle merchants are aware of this outbreak.”
“We look forward to continuing the monitoring in other states, and we need to sensitize more stakeholders on the national level for a national strategy to stop the spread of the disease.’’
