Govt Denies Outbreak Of Anthrax Disease In Taraba

Chuwang Emmanuel

The Taraba State Government on Monday denied a report that there is an outbreak of Anthrax disease in the state.

Some National broadcasting stations recently announced that cases of the animal disease have been recorded in the state.

Shehu Abdullahi, the state Director, Veterinary Services, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the report is a mere rumour as the ministry has no confirmed outbreak of the disease or fatalities in any part of the state.

Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease of animals, caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. It can affect humans and a wide range of animals, particularly cattle and sheep.

It would be recalled that the first reported outbreak of anthrax was confirmed on the 14th of July, 2023 in a livestock farm in Niger state and subsequently, another outbreak was detected in Lagos State.

Abdullahi said there are channels for reporting suspected disease outbreaks in the Ministry and that if any occurs, the State Response team would be the first to know and is always ready to swing into action.

Mr. Abdullahi disclosed this at the flagging off of free vaccination of livestock against the dreaded anthrax disease at Kpanti Napu, in Yorro local government council of the state.

He said, “As of today, no suspicion or outbreak of anthrax has been reported in the state” This, according to him, underscores the value of this vaccination exercise that the State government has graciously invested in”.

Mr. Abdullahi alleged that the failure of the past administration to invest in animal vaccination in the state, caused livestock keepers to seek self-help elsewhere.

Stressing that such an act has resulted in extensive drug misuse and the emergence of resistant disease-causing agents with its attendant complications of widespread drug resistance.

Governor Agbu Kefas who was represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Nicholas Oliver said the state had considered it important to be proactive in halting the disease from entering the state, considering the confirmation of the outbreak in some parts of the country.

He called on the Director, of Veterinary Services (DVS), of the Ministry and his Divisional Veterinary Officers spread across the sixteen local government councils to ensure immediate commencement of the anthrax vaccination of susceptible animal species across their councils.

Kefas also solicits the support of security operatives in the state to enable the ministry to succeed in carrying out the vaccination exercise.

Mr. Kefas also called on those keeping livestock or carrying out businesses that are livestock-related to remain vigilant and report any suspicious illnesses or deaths in animals to the veterinary authorities.

The incumbent administration in the state, he said, was the first in the history of the State to purchase two million doses of a single type of animal vaccine for free vaccination of livestock since the creation of the state in 1991.