The Oyo State Government has begun sensitisation to butchers and livestock dealers to the deadly anthrax disease.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.
According to him, anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria, known as Bacillus anthracis, which occurs naturally in the soil and affects domestic and wild animals.
“People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
“So, the awareness is to inform stakeholders, especially butchers, cattle dealers/sellers, and consumers, on the need to guard against anthrax disease and control measures to tackle the menace of anthrax,” he said.
Olaleye said the state government would strengthen surveillance of abattoirs for the detection and prevention of animal diseases.
He said the sensitisation team had visited Amosun Central Abattoir, Lam Adesina International Cattle Market, and goat market, all in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
Olaleye said the sensitisation was part of the government’s efforts to forestall the outbreak of anthrax disease in the state.
Olaleye, however, stressed that preventive measures must be adhered to.
“This is the reason the government has put necessary machinery in place to curtail the outbreak of anthrax; all veterinary doctors and relevant officials across the 33 local governments in the state have been put on the red alert,’’ he said.
The commissioner urged all butcher associations and cattle dealers/sellers to ensure that cattle and other animals slaughtered are certified by veterinary doctors while imploring the general public to be vigilant.
