The first case of anthrax disease in Nigeria has been confirmed by the Federal Government on Monday.

That the incident took place on a farm in the Suleja region of Niger State was confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

An official release claims that on July 14, 2023, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Nigeria, Dr. Columba T. Vakuru, was notified of the animals exhibiting symptoms of a potential case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna express way Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes and ears.”

A Quick Response team made up of federal and state health professionals visited the farm to perform initial investigations and collect samples from the ill animals, according to a statement from the FMARD.

The National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory’s follow-up testing verified the diagnosis, making this the first known incidence of anthrax in Nigeria in recent memory, according to the statement.

The federal government has issued a warning over the Anthrax illness outbreak in the sub-region of West Africa in June.

 and urged Nigerians to stop eating ‘pomo’ for now.

FMARD alerted Nigerians that Anthrax is in some neighbouring countries within West Africa, specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.

The FMARD Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe in an official statement explained that Anthrax which has claimed some lives is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man which in turn makes it zoonotic.

“Anthrax is a severe bacterial disease that affects humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats,” he said.

According to him, people can get infected with anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

However, Umakhihe said that anthrax is not a contagious disease and as a result, one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

“Signs of anthrax are flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches and if not diagnosed and treated early, lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death,” he added.

Umakhihe said that anthrax being a bacterial disease can respond to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy.