The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has officially verified the presence of anthrax in Nigeria.

The alarming discovery was made on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, where several animals exhibited symptoms suggestive of anthrax infection.

Located at Gajiri along the busy Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja Local Government Area, the farm housed various animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Disturbingly, some of these animals displayed visible signs of anthrax, such as blood oozing from their body openings, including the anus, nose, eyes, and ears.

To address this concerning situation, Columba T. Vakuru, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, issued an official statement on Monday, July 17, 2023.

Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus and primarily affects livestock like cattle, sheep, and goats. It also poses a potential risk to humans who come into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, such as meat, wool, or skins.

A Rapid Response team, comprising federal and state One Health Professional experts, was dispatched to the farm for initial investigations and to collect samples from the affected animals. Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years.

In light of this outbreak, the federal government urgently appeals to all Nigerians to remain vigilant and immediately report any instances of animals displaying bleeding from their body openings to veterinary authorities or agriculture extension workers.

They stressed the significance of not attempting to process or move any dead or sick animal and encouraged the public to promptly seek assistance from veterinary doctors or the Ministry of Agriculture in their respective states.

Prior warnings had been issued by the federal government following an anthrax outbreak in Northern Ghana, where all infected animals tragically succumbed to the disease.

Skin-based anthrax can result from open wounds or contact with contaminated objects, while inhalation anthrax occurs when spores are inhaled.

The Assembly of Health Care Professional Association and the Joint Health Sector Unions have instructed their members to go on an indefinite strike.

This was stated during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja by Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, National Vice President of JOHESU.

The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the Senior Staff Association of Universities' Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions all fall under the umbrella organization known as JOHESU.

In a letter dated May 9, 2023, the leadership of JOHESU gave the federal government a 15-day deadline over what they said were the government's inconsistencies in the current talks to change the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers on their platforms. The 15-day deadline began on May 10, 2023, and it will end on May 24, 2023, at midnight.

Obinna said, “It becomes imperative to inform you that since the Federal Government is yet to meet these demands, our members have been directed by the JOHESU National Executive Council to proceed on an indefinite strike action upon expiration of the ultimatum by midnight of May 25, 2023.”