Bovine tuberculosis a major source of human tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Bovine tuberculosis a major source of human tuberculosis in Nigeria. According to recent reports Nigeria ranks 4th in TB infection worldwide. Statistics also shows that 80% of TB cases in Nigeria are undetected and it claims 1.2 million lives annually,this is a sad scenario for a disease that is preventable and treatable.

Bovine tuberculosis has been identified as a major source of human tuberculosis infections which is usually fatal because of late detection and non-diagnosis.

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium spp is usually transmitted by aerosol route when one comes into contact with droplets of infected persons. The bacteria can also be transmitted through consumption of products from infected animals such as beef and unpasteurized milk.

 Tuberculosis can affect anybody but there is a higher incidence in men than women,and its also an occupational hazard for butchers,food processors, farmers and veterinarians.


The majority of infections in Nigeria can be traced to the abattoir,making it a foci of infection and re-infection. A percentage of cattle brought in for slaughter often are confirmed as having bovine tuberculosis,with the offals, and lymph nodes riddled with tubercles as shown in the picture.

 Butchers often refer to lungs with TB as "fuku elegusi" and in a bid to convince you its okay,cut part of the raw meat and eat it. This singular act by butchers have caused deaths of many of them who eventually develop tuberculosis,which is usually generalized.

 When the butchers start coughing,nobody thinks its TB, they start taking antibiotics for the cough but it does not stop it. These prolonged used of various antibiotics is the reason there is a prevalence of the drug-resistant type of TB.

These butchers still handle beef,working in the abattoir and spreading the droplets everywhere and even in their homes. Living conditions of most the people working in abattoirs is such that droplets can spread fast,as most live in congested rooms with poor ventilation and very dirty environment.

 A study carried out shows that most of the butchers have tuberculosis,but this is under reported as many of the butchers dont believe TB is real or can cause deaths,instead they link these deaths to rivalry and arrows from jealous colleagues.


 Veterinarians and public health officials are also at great risk of infection. Post mortem inspection is a major point of infection,handling the tuberculous organs is another route of infection and also consumption of tainted meat or offals .

Tuberculosis infection in officers have been overlooked sometimes,going undiagnosed and thereby potentiating the spread.

An officer who served for an extended period in the control post and abattoir recently died of cerebral tuberculosis,buttressing the study that bovine tuberculosis is a key factor of tuberculosis infection in man.

$2.7bn invested in malaria control globally.

According to WHO, $2.7bn invested in malaria control globally. World Health Organisation, WHO yesterday said despite an estimated US$ 2.7 billion invested in malaria control and elimination efforts globally in 2016 the world were still well below the target of $6.5 billion annual investment required to meet the 2030 targets of the WHO global malaria strategy. According to the World Malaria Report 2017, there were an estimated 5 million more malaria cases in 2016 than in 2015 and malaria deaths stood at around 445 000, a similar number to the previous year.The study revealed that Borno State in Nigeria benefited from WHO mass anti-malarial drug administration campaign this year that reached an estimated 1.2 million children below the age of five years.

WHO fears complacency as progress against malaria stalls.

WHO fears complacency as progress against malaria stalls.Progress in the global fight against malaria has stalled amid signs of flat-lining funding and complacency that the mosquito-borne disease is less of a threat, the WHO said. WHO said in its annual World Malaria Report said malaria infected around 216 million people in 91 countries in 2016, an increase of five million cases over the previous year.

A Crocodile farmer’s success story from Kenya.

A Crocodile farmer’s success story from Kenya. Daniel Haller is one of Kenya’s most successful crocodile farmers. For the last 20 years, he has been farming Nile Crocodiles from eggs laid by wild crocodiles along the banks of the local Tana river where he engages local residents to collect the eggs between December and January. Haller keeps up to 40,000 crocodiles on his farm and slaughters between 4,000 and 5,000 reptiles each year. He sells the crocodile skins to a leather company in Singapore and sells the meat to tourist hotels and the local community. Last year, he sold nearly 20,000 kilograms of crocodile meat. A kilo of crocodile meat from his farm sells for $3.50, on average.Haller partnered with a local entrepreneur to start the crocodile farm business in 1996. They got a loan of $380,000 from the European Investment Bank, and his partner contributed the money to purchase the land. They later got a licence from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to practice crocodile farming in the country. Haller uses up to 6,000 kilograms of food daily to feed his 40,000 crocodiles. He feeds the reptiles on animal innards from slaughter houses, cooked maize mixed with blood, meat and fish.

How to start crocodile farming.

How to start crocodile farming.crocodile farming is open to anyone, the sale of crocodile skins on the international market is strictly regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Before commercial crocodile farming, crocodiles in the wild were almost hunted to extinction for their skins. Nowadays, due to the strict trade regulations and high quality demands in the crocodile skin market, rendered skins from wild crocodiles are worthless as they do not meet the high standards on the international market. This has helped to save the dwindling crocodile populations worldwide. Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, which makes them extremely sensitive to temperature changes. Only a 3°C variance in their core body temperature can slow their metabolism by half, hampering their ability to absorb food and grow. This can be a challenge during the winter months in places like South Africa and Zimbabwe. Crocodiles reach maturity at 3 years old, when they can mate and produce offspring. Female Nile crocodiles can lay between 30 to 45 eggs, once a year around October or November. On crocodile farms, the eggs are removed and placed, for better control, in an incubator. When they’re about to hatch, baby crocodiles make a high pitched call and then crack the shell with a temporary “egg-tooth” on the tip of the snout. The temperature of incubation determines the sex of the crocodiles. Temperature between 26ºC and 30ºC produces mostly females and between 30ºC and 33ºC produces mostly males.

Crocodile as meat and medicine.

Crocodile as meat and medicine. Crocodile meat is considered an ‘exotic meat’ and is sold commercially to top-end restaurants abroad, most notably in Europe and the Far East. Over 400 tons of crocodile meat is consumed every year. China and Hong Kong are the main importers of crocodile meat. The Chinese attribute medicinal powers to crocodile meat and it is largely considered to be a cure for ailments like respiratory diseases. Crocodile meat is also becoming a popular exotic food in South Africa and it often features on the menu for tourists and adventurous foodies. However, there remains a strong upside potential for crocodile meat on the continent.

Crocodile farming in Africa.

Crocodile farming in Africa.Crocodile farming in Africa is a major contributor to the global luxury market for designer handbags, shoes, belts and other leather accessories. Currently, over one million crocodile skins are traded on the international market every year, exported legally from about 30 countries across the world. In Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa are the largest operators of crocodile farms and producers of crocodile skins.

The Nile Crocodile, which is the dominant crocodile species in Africa, is highly valued for its boneless underbelly and soft leather. It’s no surprise that the European market orders over 100,000 crocodile skins from Africa every year. Asia is another big market for African crocodile skins, where it is used to produce non-branded leather products. Southern Africa dominates the crocodile farming business on the continent. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and a few other countries in East Africa (especially Kenya) are home to the biggest crocodile farms in Africa. The region exports over 250,000 crocodile skins every year. Crocodile farms in Africa predominantly breed Nile crocodiles, which can grow to a length of 20 feet and weigh as much as 400 kilograms. Nile crocodiles are the second-largest crocodile breed in the world, after the saltwater crocodile. In South Africa, there are about 50 registered crocodile farms with over 500,000 crocodiles. Every year, the country exports over 80,000 crocodile skins, worth $12-16 million. Zimbabwe is another major producer of crocodile skins. In Zimbabwe, crocodile skin exports are worth close to $30m, as they are sent – mainly to Europe – to be crafted into handbags, boots and other accessories. The short video below about crocodile farming in Zimbabwe profiles the country’s $100 million per year crocodile farming industry.