By Olanrewaju Daramola
Following the fear of outbreak of Anthrax disease in the country, experts has advised against consumption of animal skin, popularly called“ponmo’’ at the moment, rather suggest intake of more of fish and poultry products.
The experts expressed their view in an interview with the pinpointnews in Abuja.
Dr Ifeanyi Ogbu, Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) FCT Chapter, identified poultry and fish as the quality of meat available in the country at the moment in view of outbreak of Anthrax.
The chairman specifically advised the populace on the consumption of cat fish.
“At the moment, consumption of animal skin, popularly known as ponmo should be avoided because anthrax permeate the skin, spore and hair of animals more and no amount of heat can destroy it.
“So, l advise the public to refrain from consumption of animal skin for now till the disease is properly controlled.
“Fish and poultry are the quality of animals available in the country at the moment because they do not contract anthrax, neither does it survive in them.
“Secondly, they contain good protein source for people on special diet and everyone and most affordable meat now,’’he said.
Similarly, National President, NVMA, Dr Olutoyin Adetuberu, said that meat processing value in the country, was to ascertain whether there are anything that could be harmful to human populace in any animal meant to be slaughtered and sold for consumption.
According to her, such practice is operational in most northern states with large number of veterinarians working in conjunction with the ministry of agriculture.
Adetuberu identified Kebbi as one of the states that carry out such exercise before and after the animals are slaughtered.
“Meat processing value is from the point at which the animal is brought to the lairage, then it is inspected to know whether such animal is sick or healthy, after that, it will be moved to abattoir for slaughtering.
“Upon slaughtering, it is examined to see whether there is any kind of disease in the meat and if there is no sign of anything that can be injurious to human populace that meat is pass for sale to the public,’’she said.