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The Enugu State Government has warned that it will penalise any farmer or meat seller found selling deceased animals for human consumption.
The government also cautioned butchers, poultry and livestock farmers against the unhealthy practice to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
The warning is contained in a statement jointly issued by the Commissioner for Health, Ikechukwu Obi, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru.
The commissioners raised the concern following a tipoff by some members of the public that animals that died of flu and other zoonotic diseases were sold in the meat market
They stressed that the state government had activated its departments of public health, veterinary, and local government disease surveillance systems and notified their officers to investigate the alleged practices.
The commissioners stated that consuming dead animals could have serious health consequences for consumers.
They warned that the crime would not go unpunished, as state health officers were already investigating livestock farms and abattoirs.
The commissioners reiterated that selling animals that died from unknown causes, outside of normal preparation methods, is a serious crime with grave health risks, as it could lead to zoonotic diseases that are easily transmitted from animals to humans.
They urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious practices, as they could lead to epidemics with severe health consequences.
The public is encouraged to call the provided hotlines to report any concerns. The Veterinary Department previously discovered the sale of uninspected and dead animals as meat in a local market.
NAN
