Livestock Diseases from Niger - Customs

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has decried the outbreak of livestock diseases emanating from the Niger Republic.

The organization explained that the disease known as charcoal anthrax in sheep and cattle is from the Republic of Niger into Nigeria.

In a document signed by Comptroller Dimka Victor David, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Intelligence and Inspection noted the disease was first recorded in the Tillaberry region, Niger Republic on September 2, 2019, where three cattle were killed.

The document issued by the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd) recently, also mandated officers and men of the service on the urgent need to place additional precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the diseases through the various land borders across the country.

The document stated further that a total of 100 cattle have been infected with 22 death cases already recorded.

It also posited that the transmission of the disease to human can be direct or indirect from the infected animals or due to occupational exposure to contaminated animal product.

According to the document; “the infectious anthrax agent bacteria can survive for several years in the soil before being ingested by grazing animals”.

“The Headquarters is in receipt of report which revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had notified the World Organisation for Animal Health of an outbreak of charcoal anthrax disease bacterium bacillus anthracis variant in sheep and cattle in the country”.

“The disease manifest either as a scratch that could progress into sepsis or as pulmonary infection due to inhalation of microorganisms sustained in the air without immediate treatment, charcoal anthrax is fatal in 20 percent of cases”