Ekiti Govt Cautions Residents Over Anthrax

• Ekiti State government has urged farmers, butchers, and other agricultural stakeholders to adhere to anthrax disease prevention measures
• Anthrax is an infectious disease that can harm both humans and animals’ respiratory systems
• The state government urged residents to help stop the spread of the disease by getting vaccinated and disposing of infected animals properly

The government of Ekiti State has urged farmers, butchers, and other agricultural stakeholders to adhere to the country’s anthrax disease prevention measures strictly.

In a joint statement yesterday, the Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, and the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said anthrax is an infectious disease that can harm both humans and animals’ respiratory systems.

The state government urged residents to help stop the spread of the disease by getting vaccinated and disposing of infected animals properly.

It presents flu-like symptoms such as cough, painless sores with a black centre appearing after the blister, fever and muscle aches. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can lead to severe complications including pneumonia respiratory problems, shock and even death.

Reps Urge NCDC, Agric Ministry, Others To Halt Anthrax Spread

The House of Representatives urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday to work with relevant stakeholders to implement effective anthrax surveillance, vaccination, and awareness campaigns.

It also demanded adequate resources and assistance for affected communities.

It also urged the National Centre for Disease Control to implement measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.

This came after Adamu Tanko (PDP, Niger) proposed a motion.

In presenting the motion, he stated that the National Veterinary Research Institute’s laboratory test on the collected samples confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm located at Gayin village along the Abuja Motorway in Suleija, Niger State.

He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had already issued a report on the presence of Anthrax in Nigeria.