The Senate has called upon the Federal Government to take immediate action by implementing a nationwide vaccination program for livestock, News About Nigeria reports.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Federal Ministry of Health have been tasked with this critical responsibility, with particular emphasis on the border states of the country.
Additionally, the Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism to initiate intensive awareness campaigns aimed at educating Nigerians about the anthrax outbreak.
These campaigns will focus on informing the public about the disease’s symptoms for early detection and providing guidelines for prevention.
To ensure compliance, the Senate has assigned Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, PDP, Kebbi South, who leads the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of these measures.
The Senate’s resolutions were made following a motion titled “Call to Address the Low Level of Awareness and Preparedness to Prevent the Outbreak of Anthrax in Nigeria,” which was sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, LP, Imo East.
During his presentation, Senator Onyewuchi highlighted several key points. He noted the outbreak of anthrax, a deadly zoonotic bacterium, in various countries within the ECOWAS region, including Ghana and Togo.
According to News About Nigeria, Onyewuchi mentioned that on June 12, 2023, the federal government issued an alert about the outbreak of the highly infectious anthrax disease during the democracy day celebration.
Senator Onyewuchi also drew attention to a public health advisory jointly issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The advisory warned that Nigeria is at high risk of importing the deadly anthrax disease from Ghana, where cases have been confirmed in both humans and animals.
As of June 2023, Ghana had reported 30 animal deaths, three human deaths, and 13 confirmed cases of anthrax.
The senator emphasized that while anthrax is primarily a disease affecting animals, non-vaccinated animals can easily transmit it to humans through inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated animal products such as hides, skin, meat, or milk.
Senator Onyewuchi expressed concern over Nigeria’s vulnerability to the outbreak, given the highly transmissible nature of the disease.
He also highlighted the lack of preparedness and awareness among Nigerians, as many remain unaware of the anthrax outbreak, its transmission, and the risks it poses.
