Eid-il-Kabir: Slaughter Healthy Animals to Avoid Anthrax
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians not to slaughter sick animals for Eid al-Adha to avoid contracting anthrax disease.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issued the advisory statement on Tuesday.
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease which affects humans through eating, direct contact with infected animals, and breathing in spores, which is the deadliest form of the disease.
“There is currently no suspected or confirmed case of anthrax in Nigeria. However, Nigeria’s close relationship with Ghana through the border movement of humans and animals, and strong trade relations comes with a high risk of importation of the disease,” the statement read.
Due to the dangerous and highly transmissible nature of the disease, the NCDC stated that the anthrax outbreak in Ghana poses a significant public health risk to Nigeria, especially during the Eid-El-Adha religious festival.
“It is expected that there will be significant movement, high volume trade, and slaughter of cattle and other livestock animals in preparation for or as part of this Muslim festival,” it added.
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The agency, however, has outlined preventive measures for Nigerians and livestock owners to reduce the potential risk of infection and the spread of anthrax.
NCDC advised Nigerians to avoid all non-essential travel to the northern region of Ghana, especially the Upper East Region, where the outbreak was reported.
It also stated that Nigerians should exercise caution when purchasing livestock from states bordering Benin, Chad, and Niger, as well as from Ghana and Togo via waterways, and that rams or cattle to be slaughtered for the festive season should be carefully observed for signs of sickness before slaughtering.
Others include: Do not slaughter animals at home; instead, use abattoirs or slaughter slabs. Avoid contact with meat/bushmeat or animal by-products such as a sick or dead animal’s skin, hides (kpomo), and milk.
NCDC also noted that sick animals should not be slaughtered or consumed, adding that Slaughtering the sick animal can expose the anthrax spores, which can be inhaled by humans if the animal is infected with anthrax.
The agency, however, urged citizens to report any incidence of sudden animal death to the nearest veterinary authorities or the State Ministry of Agriculture and to practise good hygiene.
