12th July, 2023
The Senate has urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Federal Ministry of Health to urgently embark on nationwide livestock vaccination with anthrax spore vaccine.
It specifically urged the agencies to focus more of the vaccination on livestock in the border states of the country as fears of the disease spread were rife.
Senate resolutions were sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday, titled, “Call to Address the Low Level of Awareness and Preparedness to Prevent the Outbreak of Anthrax in Nigeria.”
The motion was sponsored by Sen. Ezenwa Francis,( LP- Imo).
Ezenwa in his lead debate said that there was an outbreak of anthrax disease, a deadly zoonotic bacterium, in countries across the ECOWAS region, including Ghana and Togo.
He said the Federal Government had on June 12, amidst the democracy day celebration, raised an alarm over the outbreak of the deadly anthrax disease.
He said that the public health advisory, jointly signed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the NCDC, 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.
He said a report by Citi Newsroom had indicated 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.
“Cognisant 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 said it was worrisome that although Nigeria had yet to record any suspect or confirmed case, the outbreak in Ghana poses a significant public health risk to Nigeria due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease.
He further expressed concern over Nigeria’s low level of preparedness and awareness as a good number of Nigerians were ignorant of the outbreak of the anthrax disease, how it is transmitted, or the risk it portends.
He said it was also worrisome 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.
In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to begin intensive awareness campaigns to sensitise Nigerians on the outbreak of the anthrax disease, symptoms for early detection, and prevention guidelines.
It also mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with its resolutions by the concerned agencies.
(NAN)