Medical experts have warned Nigerians to avoid the consumption and handling of bush meat amid growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease in some African countries.
The physicians cautioned that the deadly virus could spread from infected wild animals such as bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas to humans through hunting, processing and consumption of contaminated bush meat.
The warning followed recent outbreaks recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which have heightened fears of possible cross-border transmission within the African region.
According to the World Health Organisation, the outbreaks in Congo and Uganda have so far resulted in confirmed and suspected cases, including deaths linked to a rare strain of the virus for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Although Nigeria has yet to record any confirmed case, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jide Idris, said surveillance and preparedness measures had been intensified across the country.
A Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Tanimola Akande, urged Nigerians to suspend the consumption of bush meat during the outbreak period to reduce the risk of infection.
“Ebola is a zoonotic infection and transmission can occur through the consumption of bush meat. Hunting, handling and processing infected animals are also possible means of spreading the virus from animals to humans,” he said.
Akande explained that aside from eating contaminated meat, direct physical contact with infected animals during hunting or sale could also expose people to the virus, adding that proper cooking alone might not completely eliminate the risk of transmission.
He listed symptoms of Ebola to include fever, headache, body weakness, muscle pain, sore throat and loss of appetite, noting that severe cases could lead to bleeding, dehydration and organ failure.
The public health expert advised Nigerians to observe proper hygiene, avoid contact with sick or dead animals and report suspected symptoms promptly to health authorities.
Similarly, the NCDC urged residents to maintain regular hand hygiene and avoid physical contact with individuals showing symptoms of infectious diseases, stressing that vigilance and adherence to health advisories remained crucial to preventing the spread of Ebola in the country.
0 Comments