Anthrax: FG Donates 50,000 Doses Of Vaccines To Lagos

The Federal Government has donated free 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the Lagos State Government to curtail the spread of anthrax disease.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Director, Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, yesterday in Abuja.

He said that this was to mitigate the spread of the anthrax disease to animals and humans as well as to ensure the safety of the livestock sub-sector.

Ikemefuna said that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, who spoke at the event, said that the donation of the vaccines would fast-track vaccination of animals against anthrax disease.

Umakhihe said that this would also ensure that butchers sell healthy meat as well as safeguard the livestock sub-sector.

The permanent secretary was represented by the Deputy Director, Veterinary and Pests Control, Dr Abdulkareem Durosilorun.

He said that anthrax was an infectious zoonosis disease, caused by bacteria that affects both domestic and wild animals and could also affect humans especially, those working closely with infected animals.

Umakhihe said that the bacteria which exist as spores, could be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals.

He explained that animals could be infected when they breath in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plant or water and humans could get it when they inhale or breath in the spores.