By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Dead Whale consumption risks mercury poisoning.
Residents of Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been warned by the state government that consuming a dead whale could lead to mercury poisoning. The caution comes after locals butchered a dead whale for food.
Toyin Azebi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, issued the warning on Thursday while speaking to journalists following a meeting of the Bayelsa Taskforce on Immunisation and Health Services in Yenagoa. The meeting, convened by Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, addressed the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country, according to a statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi.
This incident marks the second time in recent years that a whale has washed ashore in Okpoama, with a similar event occurring in 2019 when residents also butchered the animal. Azebi highlighted the risks, noting that eating dead whales can also cause botulism and bacterial infections, which pose significant health dangers.
Meanwhile, the state government has disputed the inclusion of Bayelsa State in the list of states affected by the cholera outbreak, as recently reported by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Azebi clarified that there had been no confirmed cholera cases in the state recently, stating that the NCDC’s report was inaccurate and should be disregarded.
Azebi emphasized that all 449 suspected cholera cases reported in Bayelsa from January to date were negative, with laboratory tests identifying them as gastrointestinal diarrhoea cases instead. The ministry contacted the NCDC, which reviewed the state’s data and acknowledged their initial report was incorrect, agreeing to issue a correction.
“The NCDC report is a gross misrepresentation of Bayelsa’s data, and we have addressed this with them. They have reviewed our data and will issue a new statement excluding us from the cholera outbreak list,” Azebi said.
“Since January 2024, 449 suspected cholera cases were reported across the eight LGAs. Notably, only two new suspected cases emerged in the most recent week, indicating a decrease. These cases of watery diarrhoea were identified through our enhanced surveillance system.
“Extensive testing confirmed no cholera cases. Out of 42 Rapid Diagnostic Tests, only 14 were positive, and all 14 tested negative upon culture tests, the gold standard for cholera diagnosis. This confirms there is no cholera outbreak.
Whale, State
Dead Whale consumption risks mercury poisoning