Kwara: FG Alerts Nigerians Over Poison Outbreak in Trade Animals
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has alerted Nigerians to a poison outbreak in trade animals at Mandate Cattle Market, located near the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies in Adewole, Ilorin, Kwara State.
According to a report from the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the incident, which resulted in animal deaths, occurred on Saturday, April 20, 2024. The investigation revealed that the animals had grazed on forage treated with an organophosphate chemical prior to the outbreak.
The report indicated that the affected animals exhibited clinical signs such as hypersalivation, weakness, and recumbency. In response, herders slaughtered seven severely affected animals for public consumption. A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Peter Temitope Fashedemi, emphasized that consuming such animals poses significant health risks, with potentially severe consequences throughout the food chain.
“There is a Rapid Response Team (RRT) in every state of the Federation, consisting of Federal Epidemiology Officers, State Directors of Veterinary Services, and State Epidemiology Officers, trained by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for emergencies like this,” the statement added.
In this instance, the RRT in Kwara State, in collaboration with the State Government’s task force, promptly traced and confiscated the meat from the slaughtered animals, disposing of it in an environmentally safe manner. The report also mentioned that 40 suspected poisoned animals were treated with organophosphate antidotes, showing marked improvement and recovery.
Further actions included cleaning and disinfecting the abattoir where the carcasses were processed, raising public awareness about the dangers of consuming meat from affected animals, and collecting blood and tissue samples for laboratory testing and analysis.
To prevent future incidents, the Ministry warned about the dangers of consuming unwholesome meat, especially contaminated with organophosphate, and stressed the importance of purchasing meat from registered, government-approved spots like abattoirs and meat shops. Such products must be certified wholesome and fit for consumption by a registered veterinarian.
The Ministry also advised that:
- Meat from dead animals is unwholesome and should not be consumed.
- A withdrawal period of 14-21 days should be observed after the application of drugs or chemicals on animals before their products are certified for consumption.
- Dead animals should be properly disposed of with the help of veterinarians and environmental health officers.
- Diseased or suspected diseased animals should be reported to the nearest veterinary clinics or animal health service providers.
- Those applying chemicals on open farmlands should notify local communities to prevent grazing on such fields for at least one week.
The Ministry assured the public that it will continue working with State Veterinary Services to ensure best practices in veterinary and agricultural sectors, aiming to enhance animal welfare and ensure the availability of wholesome animal-origin food.
