Public Health Delegate cautions population against eating meat from dead cows in Bali Nyonga

The North West Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Kingsley Che Soh, has issued a stern warning to the residents of Bali Nyonga and its surrounding areas against consuming meat from cows killed by lightning over the weekend.

This caution follows a recent incident in which 28 cows were struck dead by lightning at Bossa village in Bali Subdivision.

The lightning strike led to a rush by villagers to the scene, where they began cutting chunks of meat from the dead animals for consumption.

Dr. Che Soh raised the alarm after discovering that the meat had already been distributed and consumed by some villagers.

“After what happened in Bossa, which is very unfortunate, I want to first of all sympathize with the cattle owners for their los. But I want the population in the North West to understand that in the future, when lightning strikes a cow, let no one think that they can consume the meat,” Dr. Che Soh cautioned.

He addressed a common belief regarding the safety of consuming meat from animals killed by lightning.

“If you follow the previous interventions on this matter, it’s true it was said that if the cows were not infected, they could be consumed within six hours. But I’m denying that because it is hard for experts to do such an investigation and produce a report within six hours before telling people to consume the meat,” Dr. Che Soh explained.

He said it is risky for people to quickly consume such meat because they are uncertain about the conditions of the cows prior to their death.

While stating the possibility of consuming dead animals, Dr Che Soh said it should be after a medical report has declared the animals fit for consumption. And this must be done within six hours after the animals died.

“That report cannot come out within six hours and therefore anything we do at that time is risky. Nobody will be there to tell us whether the cows were healthy before they died or not. Even if an investigation team is sent to Bossa after that incident, they will need to take samples from the cows and examine them in the lab, and that result will never come out before six hours. So let’s just forget that possibility of consuming the meat from cows that have been struck by lightning,” he added.

The lightning strike, which led to the death of 28 cows, has cost the cattle owners millions of francs CFA.

The cattle owners, based on their Muslim traditions, refrained from consuming the dead animals.

©Mimi Mefo Info