By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture says it will embark on a state-wide vaccination of livestock from the 10th to 17th February, 2025 following the recent outbreak of Anthrax disease in Zamfara State.
Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Engr Victor Kii who stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt, said the move is in line with Governor Siminalaiyi Fubara’s policy on food security and food safety in Rivers State.
He said: “His Excellency has directed and approved the flag-off of a state-wide vaccination campaign to prevent any case of Anthrax disease in the state.
“This is consequent on the fact that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has recently confirmed an outbreak of Anthrax disease in a mixed livestock farm in Niger and Zamfara States”.
Kii said the State Ministry of Agriculture is to immediately implement the vaccination exercise of all livestock farms in the state and to enlighten the public about this development.
The commissioner explained that Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that affects animals and humans, and can be spread through direct contact, consumption of infected meat or products, or inhalation of spores.
While calling for cooperation from livestock farmers in the state, he added; “The Ministry of Agriculture therefore by this press statement notifies the general public that the twin goals of food safety and security is a shared responsibility and all livestock farmers in the state must collaborate with the veterinary doctors of the ministry for the vaccination exercise”.
He also said that the ministry is working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the outbreak is prevented from the borders of Rivers State urging the public and especially livestock farmers involved in the rearing and sale of sheep, goats, pigs, cows and others to take advantage of the vaccination exercise by ensuring that the livestock on their farms are vaccinated with the Anthrax Spores Vaccines provided in all 23 local governments areas of the state.
Kii further advised the farmers to pay close attention to symptoms in animals which include high fever, weakness, bleeding from body openings and difficulty in breathing.
The commissioner also urged members of the public to exercise caution when buying animals by observing for signs of illness before slaughter, avoiding contact with meat or animal by-products from sick or dead animals, reporting any incidence of sudden death of animals to the veterinary department of the ministry and reporting of any suspected case of the disease to the ministry.
