‘Don’t eat diseased meat’
Written by Millennium on June 13, 2019
SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
GOVERNMENT has warned members of the public against eating meat from dead diseased animals.
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries permanent secretary David Shamulenge said the diseases like anthrax could easily be passed on from animals to humans.
In an interview, Dr Shamulenge said eating meat from animals that die from foot and mouth among other unknown diseases may lead to contracting diseases by humans.
“With the current outbreak of animal diseases such as anthrax and foot and mouth, members of the public should not eat meat of animals that die from such diseases,” the PS said.
Dr Shamulenge explained that signs of anthrax include sudden death of livestock, rapid decomposition of the bloated carcasses and tarry blood coming out of all natural openings of the body.
He has further urged veterinary and livestock officers across Zambia to intensify education campaigns against consumption of meat from disease-affected animals.
He also advised animal owners to wear gloves to protect themselves from contamination while handling the carcass of any animal that had succumbed to diseases.
The public should also eat only fully cooked meat to reduce the risk of infections.
