The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country on Monday.
A statement signed by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Columba Vakuru, said animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported on July 14, 2023.
The statement reads in part, “The case was in a multi-species animal farm comprising cattle, sheep, and goats located at Gajiri, along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms, including oozing of blood from their body openings—anus, nose, eyes, and ears.”
Anthrax outbreaks are fairly common worldwide and mostly affect agricultural workers.
Humans become sick with the disease by handling animal products such as wool, hide, or bone from animals infected with the anthrax bacterium.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the…