Following the recent outbreak of the Contagious Bovine PlueroPneumonia (CBPP) cattle disease in the country, this reporter sought expert advice on the consumption of the beef from the infected animals.

The Director General of the Gambia Vetinerary Services, and coordinator of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations based in the Gambia Dr. Kebba Daffeh told Foroyaa that the CBPP disease is a cattle ailment and does not transmit into humans. He advices that the carcasses of infected animals are fit for consumption by the public. He however adviced that before animals are slaughtered and sold to the general public they should be properly examined by vets. He added that it is only the meat of the infected animal that is fit for consumption but warned that all the internal organs of the infected animal must not be eaten because he stressed that it is the infected organs of the animals that carry the disease.

Dr. Daffeh further informs that it's even illegal to sell meat to the public without being examined by the vets; this is why he said animal slaughtering is done at abattoirs, because they are well informed about the procedures that govern meat and animal sales in the country. He also advised the cattle owners to sell or buy the meat of the infected animals to prevent loss, because there are no health risks attached to it. Dr. Daffeh further went on to assure the general public particularly the herdsmen that vaccination kicks start on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013; that let them make sure their herds are vaccinated. He informs that the vaccination teams would provide means of identifying the infected cattle and the ones that get vaccinated and also to issue the herders certificates after vaccination. He concluded by reiterating that there should be no panic and let them consume the meat and throw away all the internal organs of the infected cattle.