The Enugu government has said that it will sanction any farmer or meat seller caught selling dead animals for people’s consumption.

The government warned butchers, poultry, and livestock farmers against unhealthy practices to avoid spreading infectious diseases.

The warning was announced in a statement by the health commissioner, Ikechukwu Obi, and agriculture commissioner, Patrick Ubru, in Enugu.

The commissioners raised the concern, following a whistleblowing tipoff by some members of the public, that animals which died of flu and other zoonotic diseases were sold in the meat market.

They stressed that the government had activated its departments of public health, veterinary, and local government disease surveillance and notified their officers to investigate the alleged practices.

Describing the act as unacceptable, the commissioners counselled that eating dead animals could lead to serious health implications for the end users.

They reiterated that the crime would not go unpunished as the state health officers were already visiting livestock farms and abattoirs for investigations.

“The government reiterates that the sale of animals that died of unknown causes outside the normal methods of preparation is a serious crime. There are grave health risks associated with consuming such meat as it can lead to zoonotic diseases, which are easily transmitted from animals to humans,” they said.

While calling on members of the public to remain vigilant and watch out for such practices, the commissioners said the act could lead to epidemics of varying magnitude with severe health consequences.

Residents were urged to report suspicion through the following ministries’ hotlines – 08037178703, 08066865511, 08037431577 or 08033375344.

(NAN)