Nearly 100 people were hospitalised countrywide in January due to various ailments emanating from eating meat from cattle that had succumbed to either January Disease (Theileriosis) or anthrax.
Illegal butcheries and street vendors have been accused of selling contaminated meat thereby putting the health of people at risk. A Mashonaland East-based meat dealer told The Sunday Mail that he uses his discretion to determine if the meat is fit for human consumption. He said:
I personally have been working with the veterinary office for some time now. In fact, I have come to understand that not every disease that affects cattle is harmful to humans. Thus, I use discretion inspired by experience every time. It would be unfortunate to dispose of, without gain, cattle that die, say of because of tick-borne disease, for it does not affect humans if consumed.
In 2019 authorities had to move in and close several butcheries that were allegedly using embalming chemicals as meat preservatives to counter the adverse effects of load-shedding.
Over 50 000 cattle were lost to the aforementioned diseases since last year, with some of the carcasses sold by unscrupulous butcheries to members of the public.