The Federal Government, on Tuesday, announced that it had commenced the free vaccination of cattle, sheep and goats against anthrax to ensure the safety of livestock and prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected animals and humans.
It said the vaccination was being done in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, explaining that anthrax was a zoonotic disease, caused by a bacteria that affects both domestic and wild animals, and could also affect humans, especially those working closely with infected animals.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhihe, announced the commencement of the vaccination programme during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Suleja in Niger State.
The ministry said, in a statement issued in Abuja, on Tuesday, that its permanent secretary announced the commencement of the free vaccination through the Deputy Director, Veterinary and Pests Control Services, Abdulkareem Durosinlorun.
It stated that to mitigate the effect of the disease, the Federal Government deployed 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccines to the state for the commencement of mass vaccination of all livestock within a 12km radius of the farm where the disease was first diagnosed.
Umakhihe revealed that plans were underway to carry out a free anthrax vaccination campaign in other states.
He also revealed that all the persons who came in contact with the disease had been placed on prophylactic treatment and were being monitored closely.
