The federal government of Nigeria has issued a fresh alert over a possible outbreak of a bacterial disease that “affects both animals and man, warning citizens against eating hides fondly called pomo.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Ernest Umakhihe, the ministry said the zoonotic disease known as anthrax, has now been confirmed within the West African sub-region; specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.
In response to the outbreak, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, advised Nigerians against the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat and bushmeat, to avoid possible spread.
The statement emphasised that the consumption of hides poses a serious risk until the situation is brought under control, stating that anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affect domestic and wild animals.
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