The Senate has urged the Federal Government to through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Federal Ministry of Health as a matter of urgency, carry out a nationwide vaccination of livestock with the anthrax spore vaccine, most especially, in the border states of the country.
The Senate has also urged the Federal Ministry of
Information, Culture and Tourism to begin intensive awareness campaigns to
sensitize Nigerians on the outbreak of the anthrax disease, symptoms for early
detection, and prevention guidelines.
The Upper Chamber has
mandated Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, PDP, Kebbi South led Senate Committee on
Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
Resolutions of the
Senate yesterday were sequel to a motion titled, “Call to
Address the Low Level of Awareness and Preparedness to Prevent the Outbreak of
Anthrax in Nigeria.” It was
sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis
Onyewuchi, LP, Imo East.
In his presentation, Onyewuchi said that the Senate: “Notes
that there is an outbreak of anthrax disease, a deadly zoonotic bacterium, in
countries across the ECOWAS region, including Ghana and Togo;
“Also notes that on the 12th of June 2023, the federal government,
amidst the democracy day celebration, raised an alarm over the outbreak of the
deadly anthrax disease.
“Further notes that in the public health advisory jointly
signed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Nigeria was said to be at high risk of
importing the deadly anthrax disease from Ghana, where it was confirmed both in
humans and animals.
“Aware of a report by Citi Newsroom that 30 animals have
died, three human deaths have been recorded, and 13 cases have tested positive
for the anthrax disease in Ghana as of June 2023.
“Cognizant of the fact that though anthrax is primarily a
disease of animals, non-vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily transmit it
to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of
contaminated/infected animal products such as hides and skin, meat or milk.”
He further said that the Senate is “Worried that although
Nigeria is yet to record any suspected or confirmed case, the outbreak in Ghana
poses a great public health risk to Nigeria due to the highly transmissible
nature of the disease.
“Also worried by Nigeria’s low level of preparedness and
awareness as a good number of Nigerians are ignorant of the outbreak of the
anthrax disease, how it is transmitted, or the risk it portends; and
“Further worried that no nationwide livestock vaccination
exercise against anthrax disease, as a means to prevent this disease from
infiltrating the country, has been announced by the federal government.”