BREAKING – Please read:Warning From FG
The Federal government is alerting the public to be careful of eating Ponmo, smoked meat and Bush Meat as there has been an outbreak of ANTHRAX in neighboring countries.
ANTHRAX is a disease that affects animals and can spread to Humans.
What is ANTHRAX?
Anthrax is an infection caused by the Bacteria, Bacillus anthracis
Usually the Bacteria can be in the soil, Animals become infected during feeding or breathing in contaminated soil, food or water.
This then circulates in the system of the animals.
Humans can get infected by either breathing in the spores of the bacteria, or eating contaminated meat, milk,etc.
When the bacteria also touches a wound it can spread into the bloodstream.
This is responsible for the various manifestation of the disease in humans.
Infection in humans can manifest from skin changes, or damage to the lungs or intestines.
Can actually be deadly if one doesn’t get treatment.
Some symptoms of infection could include Flu, weakness, cough, fever, headache and if these are not attended to urgently can progress to Pneumia, problems breathing and shock
If you notice these symptoms . Please go to a Hospital
Health workers are on the Alert.
Preventing Anthrax will involve vaccinating Animals at risk, Avoiding contact with infected animals , ponmo, hides. Reporting possible infections.
If you are visiting any of these countries don’t eat undercooked meat & avoid unnecessary contact with animal products.
The government has called for intensify animal vaccinations in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos since they are close to the countries of outbreak like Togo, Ghana and Burkina Fasso.
The whole Nigeria is also told to be on the look out.
To add to this , The Anthrax bacteria has actually been used as a weapon of warfare and bioterrorism in the past.
Some notable bioterrorism use were the 2001 anthrax attacks and an incident in 1993 by the Aum Shinrikyo group in Japan. (culled from Wikipedia).