Some consumers of bush meat in Bayelsa State said yesterday that they were not worried by the outbreak of monkeypox, a viral disease transmitted from wild animals to humans.
The disease was reported a forthnight ago and has affected at least 13 people in the state, according to Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, Bayelsa State Commissioner of Health.
Etebu, who said the situation was under control, urged residents to be vigilant and wash hands after contact with wild animals who are the primary vectors for the monkeypox virus.
The citizens were also warned against eating bush meat, a delicacy to many people in the state, as it is suspected to be one of the sources of contracting the disease.
However, some of the residents, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the advice from medical experts to curb spread of the virus, urged the government to lay emphasis on hygiene and not to blacklist bush meat.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigations in Yenagoa and Ogbia areas in Bayelsa yesterday indicated that business was still thriving at bush meat joints and restaurants that served the delicacy.
Some of the restaurants in Yenagoa and Otuoke that serve bush meat which were visited were found to still be enjoying patronage despite warning from health officials.
Mr Endurance Frank said he was still eating bush meat, and dismissed the views that eating the delicacy posed risk of contacting monkeypox, adding that he did not believe that the disease was caused through eating bush meat.
“This is how they said Ebola was caused by bush meat. We wash ours here and cook it very well, the government officials who are handling the campaign against the disease should not use their job to kill the business of others. It is common knowledge that when bush meat is cooked well no virus can survive it, so their message should rather be on advising people to ensure they cook bush meat properly and the same is true for all types of meat. Even medical doctors from Federal Medical Centre, Otuoke outreach come here to Nikky’s Bar. So why do they still come? Even last Friday night, they were here and we enjoyed bush meat together,” Frank said.
He urged the Federal Government to support those that had been isolated and ensure that the public was encouraged to maintain high hygiene standards as a preventive measure.
Another resident who patronises bushmeat joints, Mr Felix Okpu, said the outbreak of the disease would not deter him from eating bush meat, adding that he was going to have his meat delicacy at his favourite restaurant in Yenagoa.
“I must commend Bayelsa government for taking steps to curb the disease, but it is not enough to say that bush meat is the cause, rather they should educate people on how to handle meat generally and not single out bush meat which is our favourite here in Bayelsa,” he said.
Mrs Ogidobor Digha who operates a bush meat bar in Otuoke, said her business was still thriving and yet to be affected by the outbreak of the monkeypox disease.
She said that local hunters who supplied her with assorted bush meat still supplied her.
“I believe the disease is not caused by the bush meat in our bush here. Besides, we take extra care in preparing and handling the meat and also we allow it to cook properly,” she said. (NAN)
