Hours of boiling meat does not destroy anthrax – Expert warns
Story from Christine TOBECHUKWU
The Director, Veterinary Services, Cross River Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr Obi Ogar, has disclosed that well boiled meat does not prevent one from contracting anthrax after consumption.
Dr Ogar made this statement on Saturday 22nd July,2023 in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, Cross Rivers state.
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Ogar’s assertion was sequel to the disturbing claims in some quarters that properly boiling of meat could kill the pathogen that causes anthrax.
Dr Ogar reacted to this claims in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar yesterday stating that boiling of meat does not kill the patogen that causes the bacteria.
NAN reports that anthrax is a deadly bacterial and zoonotic disease caused by a bacterium called bacillus anthracis.
It also occurs primarily in cattles, sheep, goats and could affect other animals.
Dr Ogar further stated, that the bacterium could only be destroyed using heat through the process of incineration, which will ultimately burn the substance to ashes.
He also revealed that while disposing of any animal that dies of anthrax, the process should be done with caution.
He said the animals must be buried in a very deep grave after which disinfectants and chemicals should be poured on the carcass before covering to prevent any escape.
“This organism is not killed by the heat from our kitchens but from incineration, thereby burning the substance to ashes which renders the meat of no use to the owner,” he said.
Ogar further made an appeal to the public to desist from eating bush meat for the time being because the disease is zoonotic and could also affect animals in the wild.
He however, advised Nigerians to buy their meat from approved meat markets and not from roadsides because no one could guarantee where they get their meat from.
NAN recalls that after just few weeks some neighbouring West African countries reported the anthrax virus, Nigeria reported its first case in Suleja, Niger state.