Antrax: Kebbi residents warned to avoid contact with sick animals

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By El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Ministry of Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries has advised residents of the state to be cautious and adopt precautionary measures in the wake of deadly Antrax outbreak that showed it ugly face in Niger State.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ahmed Umar Ambrusa made available to journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

The statement revealled that barely a month after the report of an outbreak of Anthrax in Northern Ghana, the infection was confirmed in Niger a State that shares common boundary with Kebbi,showing how fast the disease can spread

Explaining what people should know about the disease, Dr. Ambursa said it was an infection that affects livestock and other mammals caused by a spore forming bacteria that affects humans too via inhalation of spore of the bacteria from contact with infected animals, animal products or affected surfaces.

According to him, it is deadly in both animals and humans if unnoticed and treated early, noting that in animals it is characterised by high fever, gastrointestinal conditions, and frank blood oozing out of natural openings like; nose, mouth, ears and anus among others.

The Permanent Secretary urged people to avoid contact with sick or dead animals and their by-products, stressing that livestock owners should always be vigilant and report any sign of illness in their stock to the nearest veterinary personnel for prompt medical attention.

“As of now any highly sick animal can be a suspect, therefore, do not slaughter such animals because doing so is exposing the causative agent to the environment if the animal is already infected. Always isolate sick animals and call for the attention of veterinary authority,” Dr. Ambursa warned.