DANGER OF ZOONOTIC DISEASE: TERENGGANU VETS SEIZE 24 GOATS HIDDEN IN VAN

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu Department of Veterinary Services (JPV) seized 24 goats that were being transferred without permission at Sungai Tong in Setiu today, in an unauthorised consignment that may have destined dubious meat to the festive dining table.

Its director, Dr Anun Man said the seizure under a Chinese New Year Ops was made at about 12.30 pm at the Banggol Nibung Village bridge on Jalan Kota Bharu-Kuala Terengganu.

Above all, she warned the public against buying goats sold at low prices in the market, as the livestock may not have undergone health inspections and disease control by the JPV.

This is because the department detected zoonotic diseases in cattle and goats brought in without permission last year.

“We detected Brucellosis (a bacterial infection that spreads from animals to people) in the confiscated goats and cattle, as well as Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium (avian TB), which poses a risk of infection to humans,” said Dr Anun, adding that this was the first case detected in Terengganu among confiscated livestock.

In the case of the goat seizure, she explained that enforcement officers trailed a van, with two men in their 20s inside, for 68 kilometres (km) before stopping it and, upon inspection, found 20 goats tied in sacks.

“The total value of the seizure, including the van, is around RM94,000. The case is being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act 1953,” she said at the Terengganu Veterinary Office today.

-- BERNAMA