The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has confirmed the presence of anthrax in the country.

In a statement on Monday, signed by Dr. Columba T. Vakuru, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, it was revealed that animals exhibiting symptoms suggestive of anthrax were reported on a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

The farm, located at Gajiri along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja Local Government Area, housed various animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Disturbingly, some of these animals displayed visible signs of anthrax infection, such as blood oozing from their body openings, including the anus, nose, eyes, and ears.

“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 Rapid Response team comprising of federal and states One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals. Subsequent laboratory tests by the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years,” the statement reads in part.

The federal government appealed to Nigerians to “immediately report cases of animals bleeding from body openings to veterinary authorities, or agriculture extension workers.”

The blood of an anthrax-infected animal does not clot. Do not process or move the dead or sick animal, quickly report to your veterinary doctor or veterinary authorities at the ministry of agriculture in your state,” the statement advised.

The federal government had recently warned Nigerians following an anthrax outbreak in Northern Ghana, where all infected animals had died.

Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus, primarily affects livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. However, it can also pose a risk to humans who come into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, such as meat, wool, or skins. Skin-based anthrax can result from open wounds or contact with contaminated objects, while inhalation anthrax occurs when spores are inhaled.