Stop Eating Pomo, Smoked, and Bush Meat For Now! - Dr. Umakhihe, FMARD, Explains Why

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) is appealing to Nigerians to desist from the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat and bush meat due to the outbreak of Anthrax in some neighboring countries. Here's what Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the permanent secretary of FMARD had to say about this issue.

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Writing in a circular distributed to the nation, Dr. Umakhihe wrote saying:

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby alerts the General Public on the outbreak of Anthrax in some Neighbouring Countries within the West African Sub-Region; specifically, Northern Ghana Bordering Burkina Faso and Togo. The disease which has claimed some lives, is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man.

People can get infected with Anthrax spores if they come in contact with INFECTED ANIMALS OR CONTAMINATED ANIMAL PRODUCTS. However, ANTHRAX IS NOT A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE and so, one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

Signs of anthrax are flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches and if not diagnosed and treated early, lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death.

Being a bacterial disease, it responds to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy. It is primarily a disease of animals but because of man’s closeness to animals, non vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated/infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk.

The General Public is strongly advised to desist from the consumption of Hides (pomo), Smoked Meat and Bush Meat as they pose serious risk until the situation is brought under control.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to remain calm and vigilant as the Federal Government has resuscitated a Standing Committee on the Control of Anthrax in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During a sensitization workshop held at Karu Abattoir and Livestock Market Dei Dei in Abuja, it was revealed that there is currently no suspected or confirmed case of anthrax in Nigeria, and that this is a preventive measure and cry of caution to farmers about the breakout of anthrax so that they can be vigilant.

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