Only Incineration Process Destroys Anthrax- Veterinary Expert Warns

The Director of Veterinary Services, Cross River Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Obi Ogar has warned that the only way to kill Anthrax is through the process of incineration, which will burn the substance to ashes.

He said well-boiled or cooked meat does not prevent one from contracting anthrax after consumption.

Ogar said this on Saturday in an interview in Calabar, the State capital in South-south Nigeria.

He was reacting to claims in some quarters that boiling or cooking meat properly could kill the pathogen that causes anthrax.

Anthrax is a deadly bacterial and zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium called Bacillus. It also occurs primarily in cattle, sheep, goats and could affect other animals.

Ogar said “the bacterium could only be destroyed using heat through the process of incineration.”

He said while disposing of an animal that dies of anthrax, it should be done in a very deep grave after which disinfectant chemicalsical 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,” Ogar said.

He warned 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.

Ogar also.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/ Mercy Chukwudiebere