Can't believe that a local newspaper has today featured an article urging people to try goat's milk that has been freshly expressed at a farm here on the island.
Honestly hope that the farm operators do not serve unsterilized milk to visitors.
Why am I kicking up another fuss over milk?
Well just to jog your memory,if you have been a regular visitor to the Botanical Gardens you would have noticed some entreprising young men hawking fresh goat's milk from the back of a pick up.
On other days they would ply the tourist belt,selling the same item.
This went on for approximately a year plus if I am not mistaken until some people started falling ill.
They disappeared soon after but I have seen their truck and banners occasionally in the vicinity of Pulau Tikus.
Drinking unsterilized goat's milk is risky because there is a chance you may contract brucellosis.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that induces inconstant fevers, sweating, weakness, anaemia, headaches, depression and muscular and bodily pain.
The symptoms are like those associated with many other febrile diseases, but with emphasis on muscular pain and sweating.
The duration of the disease can vary from a few weeks to many months or even years.
Which is exactly why you should take it seriously and ensure that milk is boiled before consumption.
Am attaching an article from July 2010 for the benefit of those of us who forget so easily.
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98 Goats Culled After Boy Drinks Infected Milk
23 Jul 2010
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is conducting checks on goat milk suppliers and has culled 98 of the animals after a seven-year-old boy became the first person to be infected with brucellosis.
Brucellosis is caused by the Brucella bacteria and is a disease mainly found in cattle, swine, goats and sheep.
The boy fell sick after drinking raw goat’s milk. He was admitted to a private hospital after coming down with fever on April 24, said state exco member Phee Boon Poh.
He was transferred to the Penang Hospital several days later after failing to respond to the antibiotics given.
Also called Bang’s disease, or undulant fever, brucellosis is a highly contagious disease caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions.
It causes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain and swollen glands, and can result in complications like bone and joint lesions, encephalitis, meningitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Phee said that following the incident, the state Veterinary Services Department began conducting checks on milk suppliers.
“We hope suppliers from Kulim, Kuala Ketil and Lunas will heed the department’s advice to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
Phee said the department had so far tested 3,243 serum samples of goats from 11 farms in the state.
“Ninety-eight of the goats were culled after the test results came in positive,” he said.
He said the owners of the culled goats were paid compensation of RM5.60 per kilo.
Phee advised the public to boil milk before drinking. He also urged those selling mutton, including for the coming fasting month, to ensure the meat was free from the disease.
“An awareness campaign will be held on July 27 by the various government departments and the municipal councils,” he said.
Honestly hope that the farm operators do not serve unsterilized milk to visitors.
Why am I kicking up another fuss over milk?
Well just to jog your memory,if you have been a regular visitor to the Botanical Gardens you would have noticed some entreprising young men hawking fresh goat's milk from the back of a pick up.
On other days they would ply the tourist belt,selling the same item.
This went on for approximately a year plus if I am not mistaken until some people started falling ill.
They disappeared soon after but I have seen their truck and banners occasionally in the vicinity of Pulau Tikus.
Drinking unsterilized goat's milk is risky because there is a chance you may contract brucellosis.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that induces inconstant fevers, sweating, weakness, anaemia, headaches, depression and muscular and bodily pain.
The symptoms are like those associated with many other febrile diseases, but with emphasis on muscular pain and sweating.
The duration of the disease can vary from a few weeks to many months or even years.
Which is exactly why you should take it seriously and ensure that milk is boiled before consumption.
Am attaching an article from July 2010 for the benefit of those of us who forget so easily.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
98 Goats Culled After Boy Drinks Infected Milk
23 Jul 2010
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is conducting checks on goat milk suppliers and has culled 98 of the animals after a seven-year-old boy became the first person to be infected with brucellosis.
Brucellosis is caused by the Brucella bacteria and is a disease mainly found in cattle, swine, goats and sheep.
The boy fell sick after drinking raw goat’s milk. He was admitted to a private hospital after coming down with fever on April 24, said state exco member Phee Boon Poh.
He was transferred to the Penang Hospital several days later after failing to respond to the antibiotics given.
Also called Bang’s disease, or undulant fever, brucellosis is a highly contagious disease caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions.
It causes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain and swollen glands, and can result in complications like bone and joint lesions, encephalitis, meningitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Phee said that following the incident, the state Veterinary Services Department began conducting checks on milk suppliers.
“We hope suppliers from Kulim, Kuala Ketil and Lunas will heed the department’s advice to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
Phee said the department had so far tested 3,243 serum samples of goats from 11 farms in the state.
“Ninety-eight of the goats were culled after the test results came in positive,” he said.
He said the owners of the culled goats were paid compensation of RM5.60 per kilo.
Phee advised the public to boil milk before drinking. He also urged those selling mutton, including for the coming fasting month, to ensure the meat was free from the disease.
“An awareness campaign will be held on July 27 by the various government departments and the municipal councils,” he said.
