Measles threatens beef industry

BONIFACE KEAKABETSE
Correspondent | Tuesday August 13, 2013 00:00

 

The disease, which is called 'Mabele' in Setswana, affects humans and cattle and is caused by a parasite scientifically known as Taenia Sacinata,  a tapeworm that breeds in the intestines of infected humans.The parasite is transmitted to cattle after they have grazed on pastures contaminated by human stools. A vicious cycle ensues in which infected cattle infect people who have eaten the contaminated beef from the infected cattle.

Although the disease is not a public health threat, its economic effects on the beef industry could be catastrophic. According to the BMC Handbook, both cattle and humans infected with the disease show little or no symptoms of ill health. Infected people will sometimes exhibit some abdominal pains, nausea and itchiness around the anus.While the disease exists all over the world, Botswana is one of the countries that are badly affected by it, BMC says.The prevalence rate of measles in Botswana reportedly stands at 10 percent compared to other neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Namibia, which have a prevalence rate of only three percent. 

Addressing Ngamiland farmers last week (Thursday), the CEO of BMC, Dr Akolang Tombale said many cattle slaughtered in their abattoirs have measles.According to available information, 12 percent of cattle slaughtered at the Lobatse abattoir are on average diagnosed with the disease.Tombale told the farmers that this presents an economic loss to the abattoir, as the beef with measles cannot be sold to overseas markets at premium prices.BMC reportedly incurs over P21 million a year in opportunity costs due to the plague.Tombale said BMC had been paying producers full prices regardless of the measles status of their beef revealing that the commission will, and can no longer afford it.He said it would mean producers might be paid little if their cattle are found to be infected with measles resulting in the beef being condemned.

The commission also fears that high measles prevalence in the country may result in the country's trading partners imposing harsher trade barriers on Botswana beef, which could spell doom for the country's beef industry.It says zero prevalence of beef measles will add value to the local beef and save the abattoir and producers from further impending losses.Meanwhile, the government has announced a massive campaign to clear the country of measles. It is understood that the campaign may involve distribution of drugs to all people in Botswana to rid any existing parasite amongst the slightly over two million people inhabiting the country.

Addressing Ngamiland farmers, the director of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Lethogile Modisa said the campaign will be jointly undertaken by the Health and Agriculture Ministries in a bid to get farmers and the general public to adopt good sanitation practices through toilets usage.'The measles status of this country is worrying but even more worrying is the fact that the situation shows our carelessness as the farming community and nation to adopt good sanitation practices,' he said.He said even though plans for the campaign are still at the initial stages, it is likely to involve public education on toilet usage as the parasites can only spread to cattle if they have been in touch with contaminated pastures. 

He said members of the public are also likely to be given pills in an effort to eradicate the parasite from humans.Authorities are in the meantime proposing remedial prevention measures.These would include avoidance of faecal contamination of cattle feed and grazing areas, access by cattle to pastures infected with human waste, identification of farm workers infected with the adult tapeworm for drugs treatment, selling of cattle to competent abattoirs and education of farm workers on the disease.