NCDC Asks Nigerians To Beware Of Meat They Consume To Stop Anthrax Spread

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians against consuming meat of sick animals, to contain the spread of Anthrax.

The centre’s Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, who issued the warning asks Nigerians to beware of meat they are consuming.

Adetifa speaking on a television programme said sick animals have Anthrax in their hair and skin.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had said it confirmed cases of Anthrax in some farm animals in Niger State.

Speaking on Tuesday in an interview on Channels Television, Ifedayo Adetifa, NCDC director general, called on Nigerians to be cautious of the meat they consume.

“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.

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“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.”