Abia Commences Statewide Anthrax Vaccination for Livestock Species

In a proactive move to prevent the spread of Anthrax to Abia State, Government has commenced statewide Anthrax Vaccination campaign targeting susceptible livestock species such as cattle, sheep, and goats.

This is following the recent confirmation outbreak of Anthrax in Cattle in Nasarawa State and its tendency to spread to other parts of the country through trans-boundary movement of Livestock/ trade Animals.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Commissioner for Agriculture Cliff Agbaeze, noted that the essence of the vaccination campaign is not necessarily to eradicate anthrax, but to mitigate the occurrence and spread of the disease in Abia State.

He said by so doing provide protection for animal health and boost livestock productivity in the value chain, and invariably safeguard animal to human transmission of the disease as anthrax poses a serious threat to both animals and humans.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ijeoma Aguwa, Agbaeze urged animal owners and livestock farmers to take advantage of the opportunity by presenting their animals for vaccination as a team of veterinary professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture has been deployed to all the Local Government Areas in the State.

“Anthrax is a bacterial zoonotic disease of economic and public health concern affecting both animals and humans with high degree of morbidity end mortality.

“In consideration of the potential risk associated with Anthrax, and its tendency to spread to other states of Nigeria, Abia State inclusive through trans-boundary movement of trade animals mostly ruminants across state borders, it becomes imperative for States to activate their rapid response mechanisms and initiate proactive measures towards the mitigation of the occurrence and spread of the disease in the various states.

“In swift response to this expediency, the Abia State Government by reason of the pragmatic leadership of His Excellency Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR the Executive Governor of Abia State granted approval with logistics support for Statewide Mass Vaccination of Susceptible Animals such as Cattle, sheep and goats. We are here today to witness the climax of the official ceremony heraiding the commencement of the Statewide Anthrax Vaccination campaign.

“It is important to note that the essence of the vaccination campaign is not necessarily to eradicate anthrax, but to mitigate the Occurrence and spread of the disease in Abia State with a view to protecting animal health and boost livestock productivity in the value chain, and invariably safeguard animal o human transmission of the disease as anthrax poses a serious threat to both animals and humans.

“I urge animal owners and livestock farmers to embrace this opportunity and present their animals for vaccination as a team of veterinary professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture has been deployed to all the Local Government Areas of the State to carry out the vaccination exercise in ruminants. e vaccination is free of charge and will last for 14 days commencing from Friday, 21% March, to Thursday, 3 April, 2025.

“I solicit the cooperation and support of the Local Government Council Mayors, Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders and Stakeholders to augment the dissemination of information to their people and thus ensuring a successful vaccination exercise in their various domains, Agbaeze said.

In his address, the Dean College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Prof. Chikezie Ogbu while noting that the success of this type of programme will depends more on the extent to which it is able to penetrate the villages and communities and called on the Ministry of Agriculture to assist them with all the needed logistics.

“The success of this type of program depends on to the extent we’re able to penetrate the villages and our communities.

“Please I will be soliciting of the corporation of the vaccinators to aim at reaching our farmers in the villages.”

The Eagle News reports that the vaccination exercise in ruminants is free of charge and will last for 14 days beginning from today Friday, March 21, to Thursday, April 3, 2025.