The Nigeria Centre Disease Control (NCDC) has dismissed rumour that there is bovine Tuberculosis in cattle in northern Nigeria as completely false.
The rumour which was reportedly issued by the Director-General of the World Health Organization and currently making rounds on social media especially Facebook and WhatsApp states that people should avoid eating beef and related products as a result of bovine tuberculosis found in cattle.
The Director-General NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu in a statement on Monday night said no case of bovine Tuberculosis has been reported to the NCDC.
He said, “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control would like to state that this statement is completely false. The World Health Organization Nigeria Country Office has also put out a release to strongly refute this statement.
“The general public is advised to note that there are no cases of bovine tuberculosis reported to NCDC, nor are there concerns of this in the country at the moment.”
Ihekweazu, however, advised the public to ensure that meat and other food to be consumed is well cooked and safely handled to avoid the spread of foodborne illnesses.
