Mr. Iliasu Ibrahim, the Secretary of the Nyohini Butcher House in Tamale, has urged the public to purchase meat, particularly beef and chevon, from designated butcher houses to ensure their safety from anthrax disease. He emphasized that meat sold at these butcher houses undergoes testing and certification by veterinary officers at the abattoir to ensure it is free from the anthrax virus.
According to Mr. Ibrahim, animals slaughtered at the abattoir are thoroughly checked by veterinary officers and stamped to guarantee that no infected meat is sold to the public. He encouraged consumers to look for the stamps of veterinary officers on the meat before making a purchase.
Mr. Ibrahim expressed concern about the decreasing interest in beef consumption since the announcement of the anthrax outbreak. Previously, a whole cow would sell within a day, but now it takes three or more days to sell one due to reduced demand.
The anthrax outbreak initially started in a few districts in the Upper East Region and has since spread throughout the region. As a result, health officials and authorities responsible for animal health have imposed a ban on the sale of beef, mutton, and chevon in the affected region. Although no official ban has been announced in the Northern Region, the patronage of these types of meat has slowed down.
The statements from Mr. Ibrahim highlight the importance of purchasing meat from trusted sources, such as designated butcher houses, to ensure the safety and quality of the products consumed by the public.
