TheCable

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the animal health sector to curb the spread of anthrax and other zoonotic diseases in the country.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria, Bacillus anthracis. It typically affects ruminants such as cows, sheep, and goats.

It is a zoonotic disease — transmissible from contaminated animals to humans.

Humans can get infected if they handle or are involved in the slaughter of a sick animal, or are in contact with contaminated animal products.

In June the federal government warned Nigerians against the consumption of hide (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat due to the outbreak of anthrax disease in neighbouring countries.

Weeks later, the ministry of agriculture confirmed cases of anthrax disease in farm animals in Niger state.

NAN reports that Olutoyin Adetuberu, national president of the association, recommended the vaccination of animals in states bordering Cameroon.

She listed some of the border states as Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba, in the north-east as well as  Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Cross River.

Adetuberu also called for the massive employment of veterinary doctors across the country to ensure effective vaccination of animals and disease detection, prevention and control.

“If you want to protect lives and property which is the primary responsibility of government, you must employ veterinary doctors for disease detection, prevention and control,” she said.

Ifeanyi Ogbu, chairman of the FCT chapter of NVMA, urged the government to set up veterinary clinics at local government levels and employ veterinary doctors to fill up the clinics for easier accessibility and affordability of services.

“Many cannot afford private veterinary clinics because of charges, let there be government-owned veterinary clinics at the local level for people to patronise,” he said.

“At the local level, we can pick up samples, report this disease and other diseases and save this country.

“Any nation that waits until diseases attack its citizens is a failed state.”