The agency said it was concerned because of the illegal movement of livestock into the country through porous borders.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has warned Nigerians about the high risk of contracting anthrax due to its close border with Ghana which has experienced an outbreak of the disease.
The agency said it was concerned because of the illegal movement of livestock into the country through porous borders.
Anthrax outbreaks in animals have been reported from different parts of Nigeria in recent years, causing significant economic losses of livestock.
The Director-General, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo M. O Adetifa, in a message posted on the agency’s website on Wednesday, said the development poses a significant threat to both humans and livestock.
He, however, stressed there has been no suspected or confirmed case of anthrax in Nigeria, adding that government has put measures in place to stop the disease from infecting the populace, including the Establishment of a National Anthrax Technical Working Group (TWG), Dissemination of a press release to notify veterinarians, cattle rearers and the public of the outbreak in the northern region of Ghana.