*Sensitises butchers, cattle dealers, strengthens surveillance on animal disease
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government has said that there is no suspected or confirmed case of anthrax in any part of the 33 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye dropped this hint during sensitisation for butchers and livestock dealers in Oyo State on the deadly anthrax disease.
He disclosed that the sensitisation was part of the state government’s efforts to forestall the outbreak of anthrax disease in the state and that as part of efforts to forestall outbreak of anthrax, the state government Oyo State Government is Strengthening surveillance of abattoirs for detection and prevention of the animal disease.
” The state government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde has put every machinery in place with necessary stakeholders to curtail the outbreak of the anthrax. Part of it is that information has been sent to all veterinary doctors and directors of agric across the 33 local governments in the state to be on red alert”, he said.
Barrister Olaleye added, ” The awareness was to inform stakeholders, especially butchers, cattle dealers/sellers, and consumers, on the need to guard against anthrax disease. Though, there was currently no suspected or confirmed case of anthrax in the state, rather, preventive measures must be adhered to”.
The Commissioner said the essence of the sensitisation was to create awareness on the preventive and control measures to tackle the menace of anthrax, Barrister Olaleye said butchers and cattle dealers/sellers need to know the symptoms of anthrax disease and how to prevent it.
He urged the association of butchers, cattle dealers, and cattle sellers to support the government’s effort in preventing anthrax by ensuring that the cattle to be slaughtered were well observed by the veterinary Doctors, and that the general public be cautioned on animals they consume, having in mind that the disease can only be contacted through animals.
Deputy Director, Veterinaries Services, Dr. Mrs. Mofoluwake Ibitoye said Anthrax disease is an infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis that occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals.
Dr Ibitoye noted that the affected animals would go off feed, weak, may have fever for awhile, when its dies, there would be unclotted blood (watery blood) bleeding through all the openings in the body, such as anus, nostrils, mouth and ear. When these are noticed, they should inform the nearest veterinary Doctors or contact the ministry, adding that the ministry is collaborating with other MDAs to ensure people are fully aware of the disease,
She tasked butchers and the general public to be cautious and ensure they patronise only government approved abattoir as well as to go for hygienic animals for their consumption.
Chairman, Butchers Association, Ibadan North Chapter, Mr. Nureni Areo noted that only government approved abattoirs in the state should be patronised and that government should ensure proper screening of animals before entering the state.
Assuring the government of the readiness of the association to support the government, he tasked the government to ensure total enforcement.
