Nyeri: Disease robs meat dealers Sh0.6m daily

Meat dealers sorting meat for their business. Up to 30 percent of animals slaughtered in Nyeri County every day are affected by Hydatid disease, a disease that affects internal organs of cows, sheep and goats, according to the Kenya Veterinary Association. PHOTO | JOSEPH KIHERI | NATION MEDIA

What you need to know:

  • The condition, known as, Echinococcus disease can be controlled through vaccination.

  • The disease in human beings is mainly caused through infection by larvae of the dog tapeworm.

  • Meat dealers in the county get animals they slaughter from the neighbouring semi-arid Laikipia County, a region which, according to Dr Gichomo, is predominantly occupied by pastoralists who do not practice animal management, including vaccination and deworming.

Meat dealers in Nyeri lose up to Sh600,00 everyday because of a disease that affects internal organs of cows, sheep and goats.

Up to 30 per cent of all animals slaughtered in the county every day are affected by Hydatid disease, according to the Kenya Veterinary Association.

Association’s central region secretary Gichomo Mwangi said the condition, commonly known as, Echinococcus disease can be controlled through vaccination.

Dr Gichomo who is also the head of veterinary services, said internal organs of many animals slaughtered in the county go to waste because of the disease.

A study which he carried out last year shows that at least 2,000 cows and over 1,000 goats and sheep are slaughtered in the county every day.

“When human beings consume the infected organs, one harbours an intermediate host which grows into a huge ball-like mass that can only be removed through surgery because there is no treatment,” Dr Gichomo said yesterday.

SERIOUS PET MANAGEMENT

He called on dog owners to take management of their pets seriously because the disease in human beings is mainly caused through infection by larvae of the dog tapeworm. This happens when one accidentally ingests eggs of the larvae that the infected dog excretes through its faeces. The disease in human beings is mainly caused through infection by larvae of the dog tapeworm. This happens when one accidentally ingests eggs of

“Many people are no longer vaccinating or deworming dogs and livestock and this trend is worrying,” he said.

The meat dealers get animals they slaughter from the neighbouring semi-arid Laikipia County, a region which, according to Dr Gichomo, is predominantly occupied by pastoralists who do not practice animal management, including vaccination and deworming.

“This county also boarders the Aberdare and Mt Kenya forests where wild animals also spread the tapeworm through faeces. Later, livestock eat them while grazing,” Dr Gichomo said.

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Background

Disease caused by dog faeces
Hydatid disease is caused by contact with faeces of an infected dog. This forms cysts form in vital organs of the body such as the liver. Bulging fluid on the meat immediately the animal has been slaughtered is one of the major signs of Hydatit disease.