Anthrax, Others: Sokoto Vaccinates 95% Of Livestock

Alhaji Abubakar Yabo, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Animal Health and Fishery Development.
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From Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

The Ministry of Animal Health and Fishery Development in Sokoto State has vaccinated over 95 per cent of livestock in the state.

Director, Veterinary Services of the ministry, Dr Nasiru Abdulrahaman, disclosed while fielding questions from newsmen on the state government’s preparation to forestall possible incursion of anthrax from nearby Zamfara State. 

According to him, about a week ago the Federal Government sent an alert to Sokoto state regarding an outbreak of avian influenza in Kano state and anthrax in nearby Zamfara state. 

Abdulrahaman said: “We forwarded the alert to GovernorAhmed Aliyu and without wasting time, action was taken by  re-energizing the already existing State Rapid Response Team which is fully ready to attend to any kind of outbreak. 

“However, before this notice, Sokoto recorded an outbreak of same anthrax in Danchadi village of Bodinga local government and the Federal Government gave us some consignment of anthrax vaccine, I think about 800,000 doses, and we swiftly started the vaccination exercise about 3 months ago. It is still ongoing. 

“We are using the GPS camera to ensure that those doing the vaccination are doing it at the right place. We can use the GPS picture to know the actual location that the exercise is being conducted. I believe by what we have done so far, 95% of the livestock in Sokoto state has been vaccinated against any form of disease.”

While noting that Sokoto has about 200 veterinary doctors, Abdulrahaman said some of them were attached to all the known abattoirs to carry out pre and post-slaughter test before certifying any meat fit for human consumption. 

He also disclosed that the state has over 270 registered poultry farms which are consistently monitored to ensure that all meat processed at such farms were fit for human consumption too. 

Also, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Animal Health and Fishery Development,. Alhaji Abubakar Yabo, appealed to people of the state to support government efforts by embracing animal vaccination and improved species of livestock. 

Yabo, who called on cattle owners in the state to come forward for free artificial insemination, added that they have used only 250 of the 1000 doses of diary and beef semen donated to the state by Indonesia.


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