Lack of fund hinders animals’ vaccination

·        OIE donates 200,000 anti rabies

The yearly animal vaccination across the nation may have been hindered due to lack of fund and which might lead to low productivity in the running years. Food Farm News reliably gathered this from a reliable source in the ministry.

Our source who preferred anonymity told us that this year’s vaccination has been hindered by lack of fund with no solution in sight at a any soonest time saying this fund gap could lead to low animal productivity in the country.

It was disclosed that the vaccination would ensure that the quality of meat that come into the market places are safe for consumption, adding that the annual vaccinations also checkmated other trans-boundary diseases against economic gains both locally and internationally.

 Presently, the total production of meat in Nigeria increased from 410,526 tons in 1970 to 1.48 million tonnes in 2019, growing at an average annual rate of 2.82%, while in 2019, production of milk for Nigeria was 523,599 tons. Production of milk in Nigeria increased from 213,000 tons in 1970 to 523,599 in 2019, growing at an average annual rate of 2.01%, without leaving out the skin used for making shoe, belt and others.

 Meanwhile the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has donated 200,000 anti-rabies vaccines for the eradication of its transmissions in the thirty seven states of the federation.  

 Chief Veterinary Officer (CVON), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), department of veterinary and pest control services, Mr. Olaniran Alabi  disclosed this, saying there were  increasing numbers of rabies outbreak across the country because more people are now bitten by infested dogs.

                     

Alabi said the vaccines had been distributed across the 37 states of the federation for the purpose of applications, saying that Akwa Ibom should have started the distribution with Lagos state, while South East should be starting next week as there were different dates for various states.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease with viral illness spread via the saliva of an infected animal by the rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus). Rabies occurs usually through biting of a human or another infected animal. Transmission can also occur through saliva touching an open wound or mucous membranes.

 The virus infects the brain and ultimately leads to death. After a rabid animal bites someone, the virus is deposited in the muscle and subcutaneous tissue. For most of the incubation period (which is usually one to three months), the virus stays close to the exposure site. The virus then travels via peripheral nerves to the brain and from there to nearly all parts of the body.