Dr. Philip Oshun, an Infection Control Practitioner at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has said that the people who work in close contact with animals are the one who face the highest risk of contracting the Anthrax Disease.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Dr. Oshun stated that the disease, which is spread from animals to humans, could easily be contracted by those who work closely with animals, as the disease could survive for a long time by encasing itself with spores.
Oshun said, “The infection can be usually from animal to human, and how does that occur? By human beings getting in contact with the blood of animals, with the hides and skin, with the wool, with the meat of the animals. So, that means that the people who are at risk mainly would be those who are in close contact with these animals. Those that work in farms, the cattle rearers, the herders, the abattoir workers.”
He then said that the exposure to this disease could lead to three different types of infections in humans; A skin infection, quoted to be the the most common, which is caused when bacteria gets in contact with a cut or abrasion in the skin, which in turn, will lead to sores on the skin, fevers, headaches and body pains. He then said that it could present itself as symptoms of food poisoning after contaminated meat is ingested and affects the intestine, as the infected person can exhibit vomiting, diarrhoea and bloody diarrhoea. Lastly, the most uncommon one happens when one inhales the spores containing the disease. This, he said, is the worst of the infections as it causes difficulty in breathing in people, which could eventually lead to death.
Explaining the inefficiency of human-to-human transmission, Dr. Oshun said, “The human-to-human transmission is not very efficient. It’s very inefficient human to human transmission. Like I said, if you look at the skin infection, it’s mainly through cuts. So, if someone has a skin infection, and the fluid from that skin infection gets into another person’s cuts or bruises, then maybe it’s possible. But usually, human-to-human transmission is not very common.”
Oshun then assured that Anthrax is a very treatable disease, and that it is important that people present themselves to healthcare early if they start exhibiting symptoms. He then advised the Cattle rearers and butchers to quarantine any sick animals. Also, he said that the carcasses of animals that died from this disease should be burned rather than slaughtered, as it will help to prevent the spread of spores from these animals.
The doctor advised Nigerians to buy meat from reliable sources, making sure they get their products from hygienic places. He then said that meat should be cooked properly before consumption so as to prevent any infections.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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