Milk and zoonoses
- Posted on 25/07/2024 17:19
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: The interaction between humans and animals in a shared environment encourages the exchange of pathogens that may be responsible for zoonoses. Zoonoses are defined as diseases in which the infectious agents are transmitted from animals to humans or vi
The
interaction between humans and animals in a shared environment encourages the
exchange of pathogens that may be responsible for zoonoses. Zoonoses are
defined as diseases in which the infectious agents are transmitted from animals
to humans or vice versa. Zoonoses can be transmitted in a number of ways,
including through the ingestion or handling of contaminated food, which has a
considerable impact on human health.
Although
raw milk is a food we all love, it is an ideal environment for the growth of
various infectious agents capable of transmitting zoonoses to humans. These
include salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, tuberculosis and brucellosis, which
can be transmitted through the consumption of unpasteurised or inadequately
treated milk.
Inadequate
hygiene practices when handling dairy products can also contribute to
contamination. Controlling sanitary practices throughout the production chain
is therefore crucial to reducing these risks.
Prevention and control
Zoonosis
prevention methods vary depending on the source of contamination; however,
certain practices are recognised as being effective in reducing risks at both
community and personal level. These include pasteurising milk and preparing
dairy products such as wagashi before consumption. This eliminates most of the
pathogens that may be present and helps to make dairy products safer for
consumption; following good hygiene practices, including washing hands after
contact with animals and before eating; making sure you eat good-quality dairy
products from a safe source; having animals monitored by a vet, following the
care given to animals (vaccination, treatment, waiting times, etc.), and above
all avoiding the use of animal feed. .), and above all avoiding self-medication
by animals; adopting good milking practices (cleaning teats, udders and milking
equipment) and strictly following recommended hygiene practices; complying with
drinking water and waste disposal standards, protecting surface water in the
natural environment and maintaining a clean processing and marketing
environment away from waste.
With
the aim of preventing and/or reducing the risks of zoonoses linked to the
consumption of dairy products, the NGO Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse
(VSF-Suisse) in collaboration with the NGO Gestion de l'Environnement et
Valorisation des Produits Agro Forestiers (GEVAPAF), thanks to the financial
support of ECOWAS and the Swiss Cooperation ;
work with government departments, universities and national partners on
the ‘Wagashi sain pour une Optimisation des revenus des Ménages Exploitant le
lait local au Nord Togo’ (WOMEN) project.
VSF-Suisse and its partners also support wagashi processors and
resellers in northern Togo, through training and awareness-raising on good
hygiene, milking and breeding practices. Support for government action is also
part of this project.
William O.
Contacts for ordering good wagashi from cooperatives in
the Savanes region (Togo)
Tel / WhatsApp : +228 93096504/ 90996998/93995375