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.