Exposing the hidden face of Bovine tuberculosis
Mycobacterium bovis, the bacteria responsible for bovine tuberculosis(bTB), spreads rapidly among animals through respiratory secretions and aerosols, primarily infecting cattle. However, the real concern lies in its potential transmission to humans who face significant health risks when consuming uninspected contaminated meat.
In an interview with Private veterinary surgeon at Savanna veterinary surgery, Doctor Jacob Masawi shed light on the transmission of bovine tuberculosis, identifying direct contact with infected animals and consumption of contaminated food and water as primary risk factors.
“The acceptance of animals into a herd without bTB pre-movement testing, driven by traditional practices such as lobola (pride prize), temporary bull sharing and shared grazing and water points with wildlife, poses a risk for Mycobacterium bovis transmission to cattle. Similarly, humans are at risk through consuming contaminated unpasteurized dairy products or handling sick animals without protection during slaughter,” said Dr. Masawi.
He cautioned against purchasing homemade dairy products without proper checks and emphasized safe handling of sick animals to prevent occupational exposures.
“Protect yourself from bovine tuberculosis by choosing pasteurized dairy products and verifying the label. Be cautious with homemade dairy products, such as cheeses, that lack clear ingredient labeling. Farmers and farm workers, wear protective gear like gloves and masks during vaccination, testing and handling livestock.”
Dr. Masawi recommends farmers and animal handlers to familiarize themselves with signs and symptoms of bovine tuberculosis and regularly check their animals’ health.
“Infected animals can exhibit symptoms such as persistent coughing, breathing difficulties, intermittent fever, and altered eating patterns.”
The Department of Veterinary Services promotes public awareness on zoonotic tuberculosis risks and prevention measures.
“Through workshops and training, we teach farmers to isolate new animals and monitor for disease signs before integrating them into their herds. If symptoms appear, farmers should promptly contact veterinary services for tuberculin skin or blood testing facilitating early detection of infected animals.”
“Diseased or TB-positive animals are condemned following thorough pre-and post-slaughter inspections to ensure food supply chain safety,” said Masawi.