The federal government has recently announced the outbreak of anthrax in some West African
countries including Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo. The deadly disease already claimed the
lives of humans and livestock.
Consequently, this necessitates the need to alert members of the university community to take
precautionary measures as provided below:
* What is this disease, anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterial infection that affects animals. It can also affect humans when they come in contact
with animals that die from the disease.
* What are the Animals affected by the disease, anthrax?
Mainly Cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys and horses.
* How is the Disease transmitted?
Animals are infected when eat or come in contact with forage, feed or soil contamination with the
spores of the bacteria; Bacillus anthracis.
People can become infected with the disease when the spores of the bacteria get into the body via
eating contaminated meat or other animal products like milk, hides, and skin and inhalation of the
spores.
* How the disease is recognized in affected animal?
Affected animals are usually found dead without any sign of illness. Dark unclotted blood flowing from
body openings of the affected animal (nose, ear, mouth and anal region) and the body of the animal
does not stiffen after death.
* How is the disease recognized in Humans?
Signs begin to manifest after 1 – 8 weeks after exposure to the anthrax spores with flu like symptoms like
cough, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and weakness.
At later stage, chest discomfort and difficulty in breathing, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, shock and
death.
* What do we do when we recognize that an animal has the disease?
Do not touch any animal that dies showing dark unclotted blood flowing from body openings such as the
mouth, nose, ear and anal opening.
Report to the nearest veterinary clinic / hospital, whether it is private or government.
The veterinarian will advise on the disposal of the carcass.
Administration of prevention and control measures in animals is strictly the responsibility of the
attending veterinarian.
* What do when we recognize that a person has the disease?
Seek early medical attention if you develop suggestive symptoms after contact with infected animals.
* How do we prevent and control the disease in humans?
Avoid consumption of sick animals and their products like milk, hides and skin ( ponmo), smoked meat
and bush meat. Reporting any sick animal to the nearest veterinary clinic / hospital.
CULLED FROM: Special Bulletin of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; volume 15, No. 28
