The Kwara government has rolled out new public health advisory measures to curb the spread of anthrax.

The measure follows the federal government’s confirmation of an anthrax outbreak in a multi-specie animal farm at Gajiri, Suleja local council in Niger.

The veterinary services department in Kwara’s agriculture and rural development ministry released the new advisory on Tuesday in Ilorin to prevent the disease.

Abdullateef Olugbon, the director of veterinary services, encouraged livestock owners and other stakeholders to increase their alertness and ensure prompt reporting of suspicious illnesses and death of their animals.

He advised the public to exercise caution when buying animals from Niger and other states bordering the Republic of Benin, Chad, Niger, Ghana and Togo via waterways.

Mr Olugbon also advised butchers to avoid slaughtering animals at home and other illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs and urged them to desist from slaughtering sick animals for public consumption and avoid selling or eating products from sick or dead animals such as skin, hides and milk.

He also urged the public, especially livestock value chain operators, to increase hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals or their products.

The officials said livestock farmers and the public should report any suspected cases of anthrax symptoms, such as bleeding from body openings like the nose, eyes, anus and ears, to the nearest veterinary authorities or the state Ministry of Agriculture and its offices across the state.

The Kwara government had warned the public about the disease outbreak in some neighbouring West African countries that claimed human lives, especially on the northern Ghana border.

(NAN)