September 8, 2020
By Ijendu Iheaka
Abia Agriculture Commissioner, Prof Ikechi Mgboji has warned residents of Abia to desist from eating cow lungs in order not to contract Bovine Tuberculosis which has been found in Abia.
The commissioner disclosed this during an interview with our Correspondent.
Mgboji said the warning became important following the discovery of some cows infected with bovine tuberculosis, a cow disease which affects cow lungs two weeks ago.
Bovine Tuberculosis is a chronic animal disease caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis) related to the bacteria causing avian and human tuberculosis and can affect all mammals.
The disease causes a general state of illness manifesting later with coughing and resulting in eventual death of the affected mammal.
“Part of our work in this ministry is that any cow offered for public consumption is usually examined by veterinary doctors.
“About two weeks ago, two of such cows when killed were found to have Bovine Tuberculosis (M.bovis) and there is no way to know a cow with such a diseases unless they are either killed or tested.
“So we decided to alert people who eat beef to stop eating the lungs of cows for now but they may eat the flesh.
“They should stop eating that particular organ for now until we are able to determine if it is a very exceptional case or a prevalent case”, the commissioner said.
Mgboji said that his ministry had alerted all Veterinary Doctors who operate at the abattoirs in the state to watch out for such disease manifestation to determine its spread and safeguard lives.
He also noted that the Abia agriculture ministry had alerted cow dealers in the state to be aware of the discovery and to allow their cows to be tested to safeguard the lives of beef consumers.
He lamented that the cow dealers have not been showing interest in having their cows tested to determine their fitness for human consumption adding that their quest for profit is a threat to human health.
“The Board of Internal Revenue is sending touts to come and inspect the meat and get them money and I ask how can a tout who has no training in veterinary medicine inspect meat in abattoirs.
“That is what we find in Nigeria and when you speak you make enemies unnecessarily for yourself.
“When you have the BIR egging the touts on to get money for them, it makes our work difficult but in spite of all that, we will do our best to safeguard lives of residents”, he said.
The Professor of law said the warning he gave was throwing up dust in some quarters stressing that these operations are not for his personal good but that of all Abia residents.
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