Anthrax: NCDC DG, Adetifa, Warns Against Consuming Ponmo, Citing Serious Health Risks

Eko Hot Blog reports that Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has warn that people should refrain from eating animal hides, also known as Ponmo, bush meat and other deadly animals “you did not kill”.

Dr Adetifa made this known during an interview with Vanguard on Friday.

In his words, “the bacteria that cause anthrax can infect both animals and humans. It is primarily an animal disease but humans who are exposed to sick animals are also at risk of catching anthrax. It is a zoonotic illness, and, by definition, zoonotic illness is primarily found in animals but is capable of infecting humans as well. Anthrax meets the definition”.

When asked if there’s any link between Ponmo and anthrax disease, the NCDC DG said “What we are saying is do not eat sick animals at all. Sick animals contain anthrax and animals that have died from anthrax contain anthrax. Anthrax is present in their skin, hair and meat. The people who work with hides and skin are at risk of anthrax if it came from a dead animal. At this point in time that we have a confirmed case, we are saying look out for the meat that you buy”.

If you like bush meat, this could be a time to take a break from it, particularly if you don’t catch it yourself. For livestock, we ask that they be properly inspected and people who own animals should not take sick animals for slaughter”.

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