Anthrax Risk: Don’t Eat Animals That Die Suddenly!
Following the anthrax outbreak, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association’s National President, Dr. Gani Enahoro, has urged Nigerians to remain calm but take preventative measures to control the disease’s spread among livestock.
He also strongly cautioned Nigerians against consuming animals that died suddenly, warning that doing so could be fatal.
In response to reporters’ questions, Enahoro emphasised that implementing biosecurity measures can significantly help control the spread of anthrax. These measures include complete confinement operations with strict protocols such as shower-in and shower-out systems, the use of special clothing, disinfection procedures, and other health-maintenance practices for livestock.
Following the Federal Ministry of Livestock’s alert about the anthrax outbreak in Zamfara State, raising concerns about potential transmission to humans, Dr. Enahoro confirmed that the disease primarily affects livestock like cattle, sheep, and goats. He also cautioned that humans can contract anthrax through direct contact with infected animals.
He said, “Nigerians don’t have to panic about the anthrax disease reported. The veterinary authorities have their jobs well cut out. Let no one consume meat from animals that die suddenly, no matter how poverty-stricken; it could be the end of life. Farmers should consult animal health workers and be willing to pay for their services”.
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Dr. Enahoro explained that proper biosecurity measures can protect animals, and vaccines can also be helpful. He noted that the anthrax bacterium produces spores that can be almost always fatal if inhaled by humans. He urged farmers to prioritise their own safety and the safety of those around them and to implement thorough biosecurity measures to prevent further spread among their livestock.
Also, he advised that any animal deaths should be immediately reported to the nearest veterinarian for proper assessment of the deceased animal and any others that may have been in contact. He then began to discuss the consequences of failing to take these precautions, but the provided text cuts off mid-sentence.
He stresses, “The implications for failure to tackle the disease now are that wherever anthrax had occurred in the past, it could become centres of continuous and future outbreaks because the spores are highly resilient and can survive and stay in the soil for decades until grazing animals ingest or inhale the spores again, and the cycle of infection will commence.”
Dr. Enahoro advised the need for heightened caution among farmers and veterinarians due to the occupational hazards inherent in working with animals.
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://punchng.com/
