A veterinary, Dr Gideon Mshebwala, has called on pet and other animal owners to ensure regular vaccination of their animals to reduce the transference of zoonotic (animal) disease to humans.
Dr Gideon Mshelbwala, a member of the College of Veterinary Surgeon, Nigeria, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.
Mshelbwala, a retired Chief Veterinary Officer and Director, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this to commemorate the World Veterinary Day.
The World Veterinary Day was instigated by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to remind pet owners of the importance of animal care and how veterinarians could help.
The theme for the 2019 veterinary day celebration is:“The Value of Vaccination’’.
It is celebrated every last Saturday of April across the globe.
He stressed the importance of regular animal vaccination, regretting that most animal owners had neglected the vital routine .
“Animal diseases like rabies have no cure, so we usually advise dog owners to vaccinate their pets because there are risks associated with it when it bites an individual without vaccination.”
He explained that the Peste des Ruminats (PPR) disease which affects small ruminants (sheep and goats) could kill up to 30 to 40 per cent of the animals within a short period.
“This does not only apply to pets but animals like sheep and goat.
“There is an infection called Peste des Ruminats (PPR) disease.
“You discover that 30 to 40 per cent of ruminants can die in a season but if you have them vaccinated, it will be reduced.
“It is always good to keep your animals vaccinated either pets or food animals, it will reduce the cost of treating animals for diseases in the future and spread of animal diseases,’’ he said.
PPR is an acute viral disease of goats and sheep characterised by fever, necrotic stomatitis, gastroenteritis, pneumonia and sometimes death.
On hygienic and safety of meat, the retired chief veterinary officer appealed to state and local government to step up action on meat inspection in abattoirs.
Mshelbwala called for more veterinary and trained meat inspectors at slaughter houses to ensure the sale and consumption of wholesome meat.
“Animals are supposed to undergo anti-mortem inspection which means that animals are checked before slaughter.
“Those that are not fit for slaughter, those that are pregnant should be removed and not taken for slaughter.
“After slaughter, the meat has to be inspected for infections.
“You check the lungs for tuberculosis, liver for parasites.
“It is essential that we have meat inspectors at the abattoirs and this are supervised by the veterinarians because they have been trained and can identify diseases and infection in animals,’’ he said.
