By Ayodamola Owoseye

The Nigeria Customs Service has directed its officials to take precautionary measure at land borders to prevent importation of "charcoal anthrax" diseases into the country.

The deputy comptroller -general (E, I&I) of the agency, V.D Dimka, gave this directive in a memo last week.

This was as against the backdrop of a reported outbreak of the disease in the neighbouring Niger Republic from where sheep and cattle are imported to Nigeria.

According to the directive, the custom headquarters received a report that the Nigerien Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had notified the World Organisation for Animals Health (WOAH) of an outbreak of charcoal anthrax diseases, the Bacterium Bacillus Anthracis variant, in sheep and cattle in Niger.

"Given the supply of cattle and sheep from Niger to Nigeria, the Comptroller-General, Customs (CGC) has directed on the urgent need to place additional precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease into Nigeria through our land borders," the memo read.

The disease was first reported in the Niger Republic on September 23 where over 100 cattle have been infected and 22 death recorded.

The infectious disease can survive in the soil for several years before being ingested by grazing animals.

It can also be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, through occupational exposure or contaminated animal products.

No case in Nigeria

But the Chief Veterinary officer of Nigeria, Olaniyan Alabi, told PREMIUM TIMES that there has been no case of charcoal anthrax diseases in the country.

Mr Alabi said the Nigerian customs had misrepresented the information in the circular to its officials.

He said the title of the circular, "Re: Outbreak of charcoal anthrax in sheep and cattle in Republic of Nigeria", is misleading because there has been no case of the disease reported in the country.

Mr Alabi said charcoal anthrax, which is common in sheep and cattle, is a deadly disease and Nigerians would have been alerted if the disease was found in the country.

He, however, said his department in November advised all states in the country, especially those at the border areas, to be at alert and look out for the possibility of cases because of the report of the disease in Niger.

He said though no case has been reported in the country so far, officials in the agricultural agency are already on alert.

He said people can only detect if an animal is sick through testing, not just by looking at the animal.

"As such we have directed our officials to be on the lookout and take samples of animals which they suspect to be sick to the laboratories for proper diagnosis," he said.

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is a bacterial infection. Those at high risk of contracting the disease are people who work with animals, animals products, travellers, and military personnel.

The disease can occur in four forms; skin, lungs, intestine and injection.

Symptoms include blister on the skin, fever, chest pains and breathless in lungs infection, while for intestine infection can cause diarrhoea, which might contain blood; nausea, vomiting and stomach ache.

The injection form presents with fever and abscess at the injection site.

The symptoms begin between day one of exposure to two months after the infection.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/368983-nigeria-customs-takes-precautionary-measure-as-cattle-disease-hits-niger-republic.html

How would they bring their diseased cattle here if the borders are closed? Lol it makes you think.

The customs should try and man our borders very well.

They should please shoot any anthrax bacterium on sight

Rednaxelot:
The customs should try and man our borders very well.

They should please shoot any anthrax bacterium on sight

Lol You're right there needs to be a shoot on sight order. We can't allow herdsmen to smuggle in their diseased and or unvaccinated cows. they must respect the ECOWAS rules.

E don happen.

Border is already closed & serious precautions needed..

Ebola saga is still fresh...such shouldn't happen.


God help us!!!

I thought bubu has closed all land borders...how come cows and rago still enter the country? Better to just face zartech chicken and local fowl until further notice because I don't trust 'em government when they say 'no infected animals' in naija

wetin be charcoal anthrax again

its time for common sense to finally prevail on Northernerns jeopardising our borders with pady pady shady deals with chad and niger

if they allow the virus in, then its virus orgy for them


.

But the boarders are (supposed to be) closed. So how come?

How will the cows get in? Shey our border is closed?

[s]

itsme01:
wetin be charcoal anthrax again

[/s]
your big lips

Yet another deadly end time disease in west Africa.

Nigeria better ensure the closure of the land borders is in place.

Hmm, never again, especially in this regime with "misfits" in the helms of affairs.

When on paper the borders are closed, oh !!! only Benin Republic border was closed,I weep for Nigeria.

Las las e go still enta this zoo

God help us

JAYUK:
When on paper the borders are closed, oh !!! only Benin Republic border was closed,I weep for Nigeria.

Your proof?

JAYUK:
When on paper the borders are closed, oh !!! only Benin Republic border was closed,I weep for Nigeria.

its not posible to close northern borders.. norther border are deserts which trucks can pass anywhere without roads, but southern border are with thick forest with only few roads through jungles

WHAT NONSENSE

SO THE CUSTOMS SERVICE, THE SILLY NIGERIAN AGRICULTURAL WHATEVER, AND EVEN THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO CROSSCHECK AND SEE IF THERES ANY DISEASE TERMED "CHARCOAL ANTHRAX"

BUNCH OF EDUCATED ILLITERATES

If it concerns only cattle then it's none of my business. My chickens graze happily and have nothing to worry about.

See Nairalanders as usual typing rubbish as if they don't consume beef. If these animals are not brought in you guys will consume all the wildlife present in the country.

Please pray for my debtor, I called his phone, he say im pick N1000 for ground dis morning, im don dey turn to yam.
I want take my money do Christmas.

[s]

itsme01:


its not posible to close northern borders.. norther border are deserts which trucks can pass anywhere without roads, but southern border are with thick forest with only few roads through jungles

[/s]

Okay

Elijahrona:
I thought our borders are closed??

Nigeria get borders?

Since they closed the southern borders, Karma is also making sure they close the northern borders.