Tips to prevent infections for those slaughtering sacrificial animals
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Dermatologist Dr. Arini Astasari Widodo, SM, Sp.DVE, FINSDV, said that those responsible for slaughtering sacrificial animals and cutting the meat during Eid al-Adha should implement protective measures to prevent skin problems and infection risks.
‘Use protective gear such as waterproof gloves or appropriate work gloves, boots, long-sleeve clothing, and avoid direct contact of blood or animal bodily fluids with bare skin,’ she said in a message to ANTARA on Friday.
‘If there is a small wound on the hand, it should be covered first with a waterproof plaster before working,’ the University of Indonesia graduate added.
She said exposure to faeces, blood, or fluids from the slaughtered animal can trigger skin irritation.
If skin cleanliness is not maintained while handling sacrificial animals, she said, bacterial skin infections such as impetigo, cellulitis, folliculitis, and skin abscesses can occur.
‘Although rare, there is also a risk of zoonosis or diseases transmitted from animals to humans, especially if there are open wounds on the skin and hygiene is not well maintained,’ she said.
Therefore, she said, it is advisable for people who are tasked with slaughtering and handling sacrificial animals to receive tetanus vaccination before carrying out the task to increase protection.
She also urged those who are tasked with slaughtering and handling sacrificial meat to avoid touching their face, eyes, or mouth while working to minimise infection risk.
After the slaughter and cutting process is finished, she recommended personnel wash their hands promptly and clean the dirty parts of the body.
If skin irritation occurs due to exposure to blood or animal dirt, she said, one should immediately cleanse the affected area with running water and mild soap for a few minutes, then dry and apply moisturiser to help soothe the skin.
‘If irritation is accompanied by redness, itching, or a fairly severe burning sensation, a light anti-inflammatory cream may be administered according to a doctor’s instructions,’ she said.
If a knife cut occurs, she continued, one should apply pressure to the wound with sterile gauze or a clean cloth for several minutes to stop the bleeding, then clean the wound with running water and mild antiseptic if needed and cover it with a sterile bandage.
If the wound is deep and bleeding is difficult to stop or there are signs of infection such as swelling, pus, severe pain, or fever, Dr. Arini said, the person concerned should immediately seek medical attention at a health facility.