Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - The public was on Thursday warned not to drink fresh un-pasteurised milk, popularly called 'noono' since consumers of those from cows suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) could contract the disease.
Dr Frank Bonsu, Programme Manger of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service, gave the warning in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.
He said cattle could be infected by TB germ called Mycobacterium bovis, which could be transmitted through the milk obtained from the cattle and this type of TB affected mainly the intestines. Dr Bonsu advised that all fresh milk should be boiled before use, adding:
"Boiling the milk would destroy any TB germ that might be present in the fresh milk."
He said Veterinary Doctors should be invited to examine cattle before they were slaughtered and consumers should ensure that beef was well cooked before consumption, adding: "It is very advisable to desist from buying cooked or roasted meat from outside."
Dr Bonsu said TB had become very common in Ghana with about half of those infected dying without proper treatment.
He said TB could affects the mouth, spine, stomach, lungs, skin and any part of the body adding that recent pathology reports had revealed that TB of the abdomen, which could cause infertility among women was on the increase.
Dr Bonsu noted that TB could be treated and in Ghana, the eight-month treatment under constant supervision was for free. He noted that everybody was at risk of being infected when exposed to an infected person in crowded places like in trotro, church, mosque, stadium and market places.
Dr Bonsu urged all to report coughs that persisted for more than three weeks to the hospital for treatment.
