The Enugu State Government has issued a stern warning to butchers and poultry farmers against selling animals and chickens that have died from unknown causes.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, Commissioners for Health and Agriculture, Ikechukwu Obi and Patrick Ubru, announced that strict sanctions will be imposed on those engaging in this hazardous practice. The warning comes in response to public concerns about the sale of animals that have died from flu and other diseases in local meat markets.
The government has mobilized its public health, veterinary, and disease surveillance departments to investigate these reports. The commissioners condemned the practice, emphasizing the severe health risks associated with consuming meat from animals that have died under questionable circumstances.
“State health officers are now conducting inspections of livestock farms and abattoirs to curb this practice,” the statement read. “Offenders will face legal repercussions. The sale of animals that have died of unknown causes outside standard preparation methods is a serious offense. Consuming such meat poses grave health risks, including zoonotic diseases that can easily be transmitted from animals to humans.”
The government also urged the public to stay vigilant and report any instances of this dangerous practice. They warned that such actions could lead to significant health epidemics with potentially severe consequences.
