The Rivers State Government has announced plans to conduct a one-week statewide vaccination of livestock following suspected cases of anthrax, commonly known as bird flu.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for preventive measures.
Kii recalled that on January 21, the ministry confirmed a suspected outbreak of anthrax at a 3,000-capacity poultry farm in Iriebe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. In response, the affected farm was quarantined, the infected birds were culled, and the premises were decontaminated.
The vaccination exercise, scheduled to run from February 10 to 17 across all 23 local government areas, has been approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as part of efforts to safeguard food security and public health in the state.
“The Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture is embarking on a statewide livestock vaccination campaign following the recent outbreak of anthrax in Zamfara State,” the statement reads.
“In line with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s policy on food security and safety, His Excellency has directed and approved the flag-off of this vaccination exercise to prevent any cases of anthrax disease in the state. This decision follows the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s confirmation of anthrax outbreaks in Niger and Zamfara states.”
The Ministry of Agriculture urged livestock farmers to cooperate with veterinary doctors to ensure all animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, and cows, receive the anthrax spores vaccine.
Anthrax, a zoonotic disease that can affect both animals and humans, is spread through direct contact, consumption of contaminated meat, or inhalation of spores. To mitigate risks, the ministry is collaborating with stakeholders to prevent the disease from entering Rivers State.
Farmers and the public are advised to look out for symptoms such as high fever, weakness, bleeding from body openings, and difficulty breathing in livestock. The commissioner also urged caution when purchasing animals, recommending careful observation for signs of illness before slaughter and avoiding contact with meat from sick or dead animals.
Kii called on residents to report any sudden animal deaths or suspected anthrax cases to the Ministry of Agriculture and the veterinary department.
“While we enjoin all to exercise caution, we also request the immediate reporting of any suspected anthrax cases to the State Ministry of Agriculture,” he added.
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