The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has alerted the public to an outbreak of poisoning in trade animals at a local market.
According to a statement issued Thursday by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, the outbreak was detected at Mandate Cattle Market, near the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies in Adewole, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that herd mortality occurred at this market on Saturday, April 20th.
“The investigation revealed that the animals had grazed on forage treated with organophosphate chemicals prior to the incident,” the statement said.
Organophosphates are chemicals used in agricultural products like herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides. Experts warn that exposure to organophosphates can be harmful, causing nerve damage and disrupting hormone production in humans and animals. They are also toxic to plants and insects.
A study by the US National Library of Medicine indicates that around 8,000 people in the United States come into contact with organophosphates annually, though fatalities are rare. Globally, approximately 3 million people are exposed each year, resulting in about 300,000 deaths. Consequently, the US government tightened regulations on organophosphate use in 2013.
Incident Details
On Thursday, the ministry reported that clinical signs observed in the affected animals included hypersalivation, weakness, and recumbency. The herders, noticing these symptoms, slaughtered seven of the severely affected animals for public consumption.
“This poses public health risks, and the consequences could be severe in the food chain,” the statement said. Fashedemi noted the existence of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) in every Nigerian state, trained for such emergencies.
In this instance, the RRT in Kwara State, in collaboration with the state government’s task force, swiftly traced and confiscated the contaminated meat, which was then disposed of safely. The statement added that 40 poisoned animals were treated with organophosphate antidotes, leading to significant health improvements and recovery.
Precautions
Following the outbreak, the ministry implemented several proactive safety measures, including cleaning and disinfecting the affected abattoir, raising public awareness about the dangers of consuming meat from contaminated animals, and collecting blood and tissue samples for laboratory testing.
To prevent future incidents, the ministry emphasized the risks of consuming unwholesome meat and other animal-origin foods, especially those contaminated with organophosphate. The statement advised purchasing meat from registered, government or private-approved spots like abattoirs and meat shops, ensuring products are certified wholesome by a registered veterinarian.
“Meat from dead animals is unwholesome and should not be consumed,” the statement said.
The ministry advised observing a withdrawal period of 14-21 days after administering drugs or chemicals to animals before certifying them for consumption. Dead animals should be disposed of properly with the help of veterinarians and environmental health officers.
“Report diseased or suspected diseased animals to the nearest veterinary clinic or animal health service provider,” the statement urged.
The ministry also recommended that individuals applying chemicals to open farmlands or fields notify their communities to prevent animals from grazing on treated fields for at least one week.
The ministry assured the public that it will continue to work with State Veterinary Services to ensure the highest standards of veterinary and agricultural practices.
