Cook your meat thoroughly

Staff Writer | Wednesday June 30, 2010 00:00

The potentially fatal disease was recently detected, for the first time in Botswana in aborted cattle feotuses in the Seribe Crush in Ramotswa, according to a press release issued by Director of Veterinary Services, Phillemon Motsu.

The viral disease, which is transmitted in domestic and wildlife animals mainly through mosquito bites is characterised by abortion at all stages of pregnancy and high mortality in young animals.

Humans can contract the disease through handling or consuming contaminated material such as meat, milk, body fluids or sick animals. In humans the disease is characterised by fever, muscle or joint pains and bleeding from the nose, mouth and skin and can lead to death.

Meanwhile, in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease, the Ministry of Agriculture has banned free movement of cattle and livestock in areas within the proximity of Seribe Crush, with immediate effect, says Motsu.

Movement of cattle sheep and goats within, out and into Ramotswa, Lobatse, Otse, Tlokweng, Gaborone and Mogobane extension areas and also the Kgatleng District and Goodhope sub-district is completely banned except for direct slaughter at facilities licensed by the Department of Veterinary Services.

Motsu further said that animals being transited through these areas for rearing will be allowed under permit only after dipping with a mosquito repellant dip or pour-on. Transiting imported vaccinated cattle and livestock are also allowed after the animals have been treated with a mosquito repellant, she said.

Motsu said that the restrictions do not apply to movement of cattle and livestock in other parts of the country.'Farmers and the general public are strongly advised to avoid handling or consuming any suspect or contaminated material [such as] aborted feotuses [and should not remove] retained placenta from aborted animals, milk animals that have had an abortion, handle young dead animals or slaughter animals whose young have recently died,' she said, adding that people should also thoroughly cook animal products before eating them.