Expert asks people to slaughter animals at dedicated sites

The collective slaughtering of sacrificial animals and their offals would be a great help to prevent diseases during the Eidul Azha. "It is an appeal to the people to dedicate sites and ensure collective slaughtering of animals during Eidul Azha so as to prevent series of ailments," said Dr Nasim Sallahuddin, a senior physician and an infection control expert as head of infection control at a private hospital.
Talking to APP on Sunday, she stressed that there was no need for people to slaughter animals at homes or on streets as this enhances chances of disease outbreak in the city.
"We need to develop a healthy culture without any compromise on hygienic considerations," said the doctor. Dr Nasim Sallahudin said that arrangements must be duly available for proper washing away and disposal of cattle blood and waste after each episode of slaughter.
Regretting that there were no arrangements for presence of veterinary doctors even at the specially created cattle markets, prior to Eidul Azha, she said the provision could had helped people to avoid purchase of a sick animal.
She, in reply to a question, also warned people against serious health risks they may be exposed due to poor hygienic condition in handling the cattle.
"If there is an injury in hands or any other exposed part of the body please do not get into direct contact with blood or any excreta of the animal as this may cause any severe ailment," she said.
With particular reference to congo crimean fever, cases of which were reported during recent past, she said people may not know that the cow, buffalo etc purchased by them may have the peculiar tick.
The infection control expert said there are a series of ailments that affect people due to their direct and close exposure to the affected cattle. "Since impact of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever or Congo Fever is quite dramatic (profuse bleeding) as well as rapid therefore we are some what more scared of it," she said in reply to another question.
Many of the other diseases, that are slow at the onset but perhaps equally or more fatal are generally ignored, said the doctor.
The infection control expert referred to Hydatid Disease (a parasitic disease transmitted through cattle). This is not endemic but is reported off and on with growth of cysts on brain or spleen as its manifestation. "Hydatid Diseases takes a year to develop and has no cure," she said. Similarly she said there is Anthrax that is spread through infected hides of the cattle and cause fever, pneumonia and skin diseases. "This particularly affects skin and lungs of the individual who may have contracted it through cattle," said the doctor.
Anthrax, she said is basically spread through untreated hides. Dr Nasim Sallahuddin also referred to Cow Pox which is like small pox and cattle induced Tuberculosis which is a little different from regular microbacterium TB.
"The TB transmitted through cattle affects intestines and could responsible for Skin TB and Glandular TB among the people. The senior physician also urged the people to ensure that only well and properly cooked meat is consumed by them as otherwise they may be exposed to "toxoplasma." People in general must also be conscious of "Brucellosis," a slow disease caused due to consumption of untreated milk, that is neither properly boiled or pasteurised.
The infection control expert said most of the cattle induced ailments can not be easily diagnosed as tests are not available. They often, however, are fatal and therefore it was necessary to have adequate arrangements to identify sick animal or cattle with ticks at the markets before being purchased by people in general.
The doctor said none of the discussed diseases were vaccine preventable as vaccines were available for the diseases that may be epidemic. "People with uncontrolled diabetes or those who may be on dialysis or suffering from any chronic disease have to be extremely careful in handling cattle as their immunity system is already compromised," she pointed out.