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Following an outbreak of anthrax disease in the West African nation of Ghana, Nigerian authorities have urged citizens to halt consumption of cooked animal hides, a delicacy also known as “pomo” in the country. Gibson Emeka has this story from Abuja, Nigeria, narrated by Salem Solomon.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptNIGERIA ANTHRAX WARNING
HEADLINE: Nigeria Warns Citizens Against Consuming Animal Hides Following Anthrax Outbreak
TEASER: Following an outbreak of the disease in Ghana, Nigeria alerts residents of dangers
PUBLISHED AT: 07/02/2023 at 3:09 pm
BYLINE: Gibson Emeka
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: ABUJA, NIGERIA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE(S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:33
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: SOTs have been introduced for radio. For questions and final review, send it back to Africa Division’s senior editor, Salem Solomon, email: salemsolomon@voanews.com, Africa Division’s executive producer, Betty Ayoub, email: bayoub@voanews.com. https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/animal-products/hides-drums.html ))
((INTRO))
[[Following an outbreak of anthrax disease in the West African nation of Ghana, Nigerian authorities have urged citizens to halt consumption of cooked animal hides, a delicacy also known as “pomo” in the country. Gibson Emeka has this story from Abuja, Nigeria, narrated by Salem Solomon.]]
((NARRATOR))
Modester Oluchukwu, a Nigerian mother of four, is a skilled home cook. Her shopping list always contains food made of cowhide or other skins. Locals call it "pomo."
But Oluchukwu says she has cut down on her favorite protein amid a heightened fear of anthrax, which broke out in Northern Ghana, which borders Togo and Burkina Faso. Nigerian health experts are already sounding the alarm that cowhide can carry potentially deadly bacteria.
((Modester Oluchukwu, Abuja Resident)) ((Female, in English))
“I have not stopped eating pomo. I’m still using pomo, but not always. Sometimes beef meat used to be expensive, but pomo will be cheaper, so I have to go for pomo."
((NARRATOR))
Anthrax is found in wild and domestic hoofed animals. Humans are usually exposed to it through handling animals or animal hides. Untreated, it can cause severe illness and
even death. The risk of infection is high in Nigeria, where animal hides are a cultural delicacy.
Since the outbreak in Ghana, the Nigerian government is doubling efforts to prevent the disease from gaining entrance, says Dr. Regina Adulugba, the Federal Capital Territory Director of Veterinary Services.
((Dr. Regina Adulugba, FCT Veterinary Services Director)) ((Female, in English))
“We trade with Ghana, so the possibility of coming to Nigeria is very high, so we need to properly alert the stakeholders, the livestock dealers, the butchers.”
((NARRATOR))
Jubril Mohammed, a cowhide trader, says the demand for pomo in local markets has begun to slow since the government’s warning.
((Jubril Mohammed, Cowhide Trader)) ((Male, in English))
“I noticed that people have reduced buying pomo, not like before. I think in the last three weeks now, the patronage is a little bit low now.”
((NARRATOR))
Anthrax symptoms include mild cough, fever, muscle aches, and severe lung problems.
Although no case has been recorded in Nigeria yet — Dr. Ejike Orji, who speaks on public health matters, has called for caution.
((Dr. Ejike Orji, Public Health Expert)) ((Male, in English))
Make sure that people are fully aware and preventative steps they should take. And most importantly to advise people not to eat bush meat and pomo.”
((NARRATOR))
Anthrax spore vaccine is the cheapest and easiest way to prevent the disease in livestock. The government is urging farmers to inoculate their animals to prevent the disease from establishing itself in the country.
((For Gibson Emeka in Abuja, Nigeria, Salem Solomon, VOA News.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Abuja, Nigeria
Embargo DateJuly 2, 2023 15:46 EDT
Byline
For Gibson Emeka Salem Solomon, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - Africa, Voice of America - English
