The Bauchi state government has called on stakeholders to adopt preventive measures to reduce the risks of infectious disease transmission in livestock.
The Director of Veterinary Services at the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, gave the advice at a lecture organised by the National Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists on Saturday.
“Stakeholders must do everything possible to reduce the chances of infectious diseases being spread to farms by humans, animals, equipment, or vehicles.
“Animal health workers must always take preventive measures against disease transmission from animals to humans as front liners in the fight against animal diseases,’’ he said.
Dr. Bello emphasised the significance of biosecurity among animal health workers, either at veterinary clinics or during ambulatory services at various homes and farms.
He also called on herders, butchers, and other processors to always protect themselves from animal disease transmission and to sell, buy, and slaughter only healthy animals.
Earlier, Mr. Lamido Muhammad, Bauchi state chairman of the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists, said the sensitisation lecture was to keep stakeholders abreast of the outbreak of anthrax in some parts of the country.
“The lecture is necessary, especially at this time of deadly Anthrax outbreaks, hence the need for animal health workers to learn preventive techniques,’’ Muhammad said.
Anthrax is a disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax spores in the soil are very resistant and can cause diseases when ingested even years after an outbreak.
It occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals.
People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
Stakeholders in attendance were animal health workers, government officials, butchers, and students, among others.
