Considering the prevalent condition of Ebola Virus in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world most people are afraid to live their normal lives and this includes; Doctors, health practitioners, travelers, individuals and farmers are not excluded.
Ebola Virus is a deadly virus that has taken lives of many people within its short period of persistency and its obvious this Virus is detected from “Bat, Monkey, Gorrilla and some other non-profit animals to farmers and Agriculture.
I choose to write this post in other to make it clear that Ebola can really be a poisonous to our Health not mainly that of our livestocks alone.
If you consider the animals mentioned above “ Bat, Gorrilla, Monkey” they are almost animals of zero interest to a farmer, even at such, you can’t just stay careless as a farmer in a time like this.
According to the report by WHO those animals “bat, gorilla, monkey” are the host; they harbor “Ebola Virus” and it has no effect on them, this simply tells us they can live fine with it.
Gorrilla, bat and monkey are commonly found in the forest and highly green vegetation areas where they have their life and through the year.
Most Ruminant animals like “Sheep, Goats, Cattles,” and some non-ruminant like Horse, pig, rabbit and the rest that feeds on vegetables and green pasture are mostly found grazing in the bush or forest as the case maybe and these is the same ecosystem where the Ebola Host animals are found.
Majorly during the process of grazing animals might have some mouth –to-grass contact or even body to mouth contact with a monkey that carries ebola virus in the case of cattles that feeds widely on green grass in a large area of land, so many unpredictable things can happen while the animals are grazing.
Currently no farm animal has been tested to either carries Ebola as a host or been infected with Ebola Virus, however we must take note of the fact that it can transmit to the animals majorly the ruminants that graze all day in the pasture so its advised for farmers to be sensitive and monitor their farm animals this time.
Note: If Cattle comes in contact with an Ebola Host during the process of grazing and they also had any blood or fluid exchange in the process its likely for the cattle to be infected with Ebola Virus which might not show signs vat the early stage if ignorantly sold to market and consumed, it will definitely affect the consumers “humans”. Ebola is no way friendly to human and a simple contact with the deadly Virus disease can cause a quicken death symptoms.
How can Farmers Immune their Animals from Ebola Virus Infection?
There are many steps to take in order to protect and safeguard the lives of the livestock from contacting Ebola;
1. Quarantine services must be observed for every new incoming animal.
2. Pasture and range lands must be disinfected and its more better to have a paddocked system for grazing animals.
Proper monitoring of grazing fields should be carried out and health management for the animals (especially those showing unhealthy signs) should be properly handled.
3. Regular Injection for animals, antibiotics, general cleansing and neatness in the animal range should be observed.
4. Restrict the area of grazing for ruminant animals; especially cattle under non challant care system of the farmers should be checked in this time.
5. Properly management forage crops should be better administered to the animals to reduce the need for continuous grazing.
6. Sick and unhealthy animals should not be killed or consumed for any reason as it is dangerous to health.
7. Dead animals should be buried early without delay.
8. Grazing field should be properly monitored or restricted to a managed foraged field.
9. Farm animals should be taken away from habitations with monkey, gorilla, bat as they can infect them unknowingly.
10. Any strange health hazard and symptoms like dropping if mucous from mouth and nose should be attend to and such animal should be culled.
The incidence of ebola virus can infect the animal and on the long run affect the humans who are the consumers of the animal.
Let us take proper care of our Health, since it’s a virus the effect is still somehow rapid and prevention is always better than cure.
I would have suggested farmers to create their own forage grass land where they spray and monitor the green grasses and legumes regularly for the consumption of their animals.
Any farm settlement located in the bush should also watch out, cull and treat sick animals regularly, do not leave dirt and stains on animal body. Proper cleanliness is one way you can prevent the issues of unhealthy animal health.
Like I said in the beginning Ebola as not been in anyway detected in a farm animal but I choose to write this as an awareness, farmers should take heed in a time like this.
What’s your say?
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