Anthrax disease: Director warns people against consumption of unwholesome meat
NAN-HG-6
Warning
Dutse, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) Dr Abdullahi Haruna, the Director of Veterinary Services, Jigawa Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has warned people to desist from consumption of meat from animals not slaughtered in recognised slaughter slabs in the state.
Haruna gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Dutse.
Anthrax disease is a severe illness caused by bacteria named Bacillus anthracis.
Anthrax disease can result in pneumonia, blood infection and death.
Most of the time anthrax bacteria can be carried in the wool or on the skin of animals, usually cow, sheep or goats.
“According to what we heard, eight persons died in Niger Republic as a result of this disease.
“And because we share border with Niger, people from other states became disturbed and kept asking us about the measures taken about it.
“That is why we are warning people to be extra careful as regard to meats they eat.
“One must ensure that he consumes meat from animals slaughtered in the recognised abattoirs in the state,” he advised.
The official further advised people not to have direct contact with animals that are sick or dead, particularly cow in order to lower their risk contacting anthrax from such animals.
According to him, the classical signs of the disease in cattle include blood coming from the nose, ear, mouth and anus when they died.
Haruna said that people must also avoid contact with the blood of such animals, adding that such animals must be buried immediately they died, and the blood stains be cleaned to avoid spread of the disease.
“To lower your risk of getting anthrax, do not eat meat that has not been properly slaughtered and cooked, do not work with raw animal’s hides or skin, especially those of goats, sheep or cows,” Haruna warned. (NAN)
MNB/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola