ANTHRAX DISEASE: UPPER EAST MINISTER GRATEFUL TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu has expressed gratitude to the Muslim Community in the Region for their cooperation and support in the quest to check the spread of the anthrax disease outbreak in the region.

He acknowledged that residents largely depended on animal rearing for their livelihood, and said even though the ban on movement of animals affected their livelihoods, it was intended to protect them.

“Thank you all for such great cooperation either than that the region would be in turmoil. We never take it for granted because we know your livelihood depends on that,” he said.

Hon. Yakubu was speaking at a meeting of the Public Health Emergency Management Committee (PHEMC) to provide update on the anthrax disease in the Region.

He said there were no new recorded cases in the Region, and commended members of the PHEMC for their tireless efforts.

Presenting records on the vaccination exercises at the beginning of the outbreak, the Bongo District Director of the Veterinary Services Department, Dr. Albert Tweneboah said a total of 120,500 doses of anthrax vaccines were received and 121,961 animals including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs were vaccinated across the entire region.

The Regional Director of the Service, Dr. Henry Nii Ayi Anani assured the Committee that staff of the Service were poised to eliminate the bacteria in the region.