Nigerian livestock and poultry producers alerted to nearby anthrax outbreaks

The federal government of Nigeria has alerted livestock breeders and poultry farmers of the outbreak of anthrax in neighbouring countries, according to a press release from the Poultry Association of Nigeria. A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ernest Afolabi Ernest indicated that Nigeria was alerted on the outbreak of the zoonotic disease in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo. The statement called for caution and vaccination of animals in the states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos. According to the statement, the disease has so far claimed the lives of farmers and their livestock in the neighbouring countries. “The general public is therefore advised to desist from the consumption of hides (Pomo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose a serious risk until the situation is brought under control”, the government advised. Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a highly infectious and often fatal disease ...