95 butchers infected with Brucellosis disease in Bauchi – official

By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government said on during the week that 95 butchers in the state have been infected with animal related diseases known as Brucellosis in Bauchi state.
The Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Istipanus Irimiya said this in Bauchi in an interview with Newsmen

Irimiya disclosed that the figure was out of the 224 butchers from Bauchi, Misau and Katagum Local Government Areas where they tested positive to laboratory screening.
He explained that Brucellosis disease is a contagious disease been transmitted by ruminants to human beings particularly butchers, herdsmen and veterinarian who interact with such the animals.
According to him, “the disease is transmitted through consumption of uncooked milk, meat, raw meat, blood of the infected animals as well as lack of proper sanitation and hygiene.
“The symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, sweating at night, victims at times cannot talk, abortion in pregnant woman,” he said.
Irimiya said that the disease was discovered in the state by one Dr Philip Bobu-Igiwe, a student on internship from Center For Disease Control Georgia, American under the under the umbrella of Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFETLP), with centers in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; University of Ibadan and Nssukka and such center where medical and veterinary doctors carried out research on how to cure animals diseases that affects people.

“It was after the test was conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on the blood samples of 224 butchers from three abattoirs.
“The Institute then donates 8, 000 dosages of drugs to the patients found infected with the disease and the drugs are distributed free of charge to the affected butchers,” the director said.
He said that a pointed out that sensitization and enlightenment campaign would carry in collaboration with traditional leaders to enlighten the people on the danger of the disease.
The Chairman, Bauchi Butchers Associated of Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Uba, commended government over the gesture especially that such disease was unknown this part of the country.
Uba thanked the center for assisting the patients and urged the patients to observe rules guiding the administration of the drugs.


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