“Stop Eating Meat From Sick Animals To Prevent Anthrax Outbreak” – NCDC Warns Nigerians

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned Nigerians to stop consuming meat from sick animals, as it may be contaminated with anthrax.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. While it primarily affects ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and goats, it is also a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans.

Human infection occurs through contact with contaminated animal products, handling or slaughtering sick animals, or being in proximity to infected animals.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently confirmed cases of anthrax in farm animals in Niger state.

During an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, the Director General of NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa emphasized the need for caution in meat consumption.

He further urged Nigerians to be vigilant when purchasing meat, especially bush meat, and advised against the handling and consumption of animals that may have died recently or show signs of anthrax infection.

Adetifa further stressed the importance of proper inspection in abattoirs to ensure that slaughtered animals are free from anthrax contamination.

“What we are saying is do not eat sick animals at all. Sick animals contain anthrax or animals that have died of anthrax contain anthrax and consumption of any of that product…anthrax is present on their skin, is present in their hair, is present in their meat,” Adetifa said.

“So, consumption of any of these products, even the people who work with hides and skin who are not even working on skin for the purpose of consumption, are at the risk of anthrax if that skin came from a dead animal.

“So, at this point in time where we have a confirmed case, we are just saying, look out for the meat that you buy.

“If you like bush meat, maybe this is a time to take a break from bush meat if you did not catch it yourself because what we don’t want is people tend to pick up either animals that are near or have died freshly with a view of selling them for consumption.

“And similarly for livestock, even if they are killed in abattoirs and all of that is, we are asking that animals be properly inspected.

“People who own animals should not take sick animals for slaughter and if animals are slaughtered and it is noticed that their blood is not clotting, there is bloating more than usual or the meat starts to deteriorate pretty quickly, this is likely to be the carcass of anthrax infected animal and should not be sold for consumption.”

KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had also revealed that it recently responded to reports of diphtheria cases in Lagos and Kano states.