The anthrax outbreak claims have been refuted by the government of Taraba State.
You may remember that a few weeks ago, news outlets reported that the disease had been found in the state.
The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Shehu Abdullahi Yaro, refuted this claim on Tuesday during the kickoff of free vaccination of livestock against the deadly anthrax disease at Kpanti Napu, in Yorro local government council of the state.
He stated that the previous government had failed to invest in animal immunization, which had led livestock owners to seek self-help, and that this had led to rampant drug usage and the creation of resistant disease-causing agents, among other problems.
Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, speaking through Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security Professor Nicholas Oliver Namessan, cited confirmed outbreaks of the disease in other parts of the country to explain why it was crucial to take preventative measures against the spread of the disease within the state.
He issued a call to action to the Ministry’s Director, Veterinary Services (DVS), as well as the Divisional Veterinary Officers he oversees in each of the 16 local government councils, demanding that they immediately begin vaccinating animals at risk for anthrax.
He asked for security personnel’s help and said farmers should be on the lookout for any unusual illness or death in their cattle and report it.
On July 14, 2023, the first case of anthrax was discovered at a livestock farm in Niger State; a week later, a similar case was discovered in Lagos State.
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