The Niger State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm of government to investigate the cause of anthrax disease with a view to curtailing its spread.
This was a sequel to a motion of urgent public importance brought before the plenary of the House by Hon. Murtala Adamu Badaru, Member Representing Suleja Constituency.
Hon. Badaru informed the House that on July 14, 2023, a report from the office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Federation notified the general public of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected disease called 'anthrax', which was confirmed in a different-species animal farm comprising cattle, sheep, and goats located at Gajiri village along the Abuja-Kaduna motorway in Suleja Local Government Area.
He said that the deadly anthrax disease spread between animals and later to humans and aggravated from humans to humans, at which stage it becomes an epidemic.
The House unanimously adopted the prayers of the Motion after deliberations on the matter.
For their prayers, the House directed that the state ministry of information embark on a sensitization and awareness campaign to educate the public on what to look out for as symptoms of anthrax and report suspected cases.
Adding that the Niger State House of Assembly urged the chairman of Suleja Local Government Area to convey an emergency meeting with relevant stakeholders and heighten surveillance on the Suleja abattoir to ensure strict compliance with experts’ recommendations on preventive measures.