Rivers plans one-week anthrax vaccination for livestock

The Rivers State Government has announced plans to conduct a one-week vaccination campaign for livestock across all 23 local government areas to prevent the spread of anthrax disease.

State Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the exercise was approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as part of efforts to safeguard public health and food security.

The vaccination campaign, scheduled to run from February 10 to 17, comes in response to recent outbreaks of anthrax in Niger and Zamfara states.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had earlier confirmed cases in a mixed livestock farm, raising concerns about potential spread.

“In line with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s policy on food security and food safety in Rivers State, His Excellency has directed and approved the flag-off of a statewide vaccination campaign to prevent any case of anthrax disease in the state,” the statement read.

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that affects both animals and humans, spreading through direct contact, consumption of contaminated meat, or inhalation of spores.

To curb its spread, Kii urged livestock farmers to collaborate with veterinary doctors for the vaccination of their animals.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the outbreak is prevented from reaching Rivers State,” he added.

Farmers and livestock traders dealing in sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle have been advised to take advantage of the free vaccination

They are also urged to watch for symptoms such as high fever, weakness, difficulty in breathing, and bleeding from body openings in their animals.

The commissioner further cautioned the public to be vigilant when purchasing livestock, advising them to check for signs of illness before slaughtering animals and to report any sudden deaths to the Ministry of Agriculture and its veterinary department.