“Since last week, we have experienced a drop in the sales of all kinds of bush meat such as monkey, grass cutter, pumpkin pine and snake.
“Because of the drop in sales, we have not been able to purchase fresh bush meat.
“Some of our big customers, especially hotels and operators of guest houses, have reduced the quantity they used to buy from us,’’ she said.
Another meat seller, Mr Eti Idahosa, who had been in the business for more than 20 years, said “we have never seen this sharp drop in sales within so short a time of the news of any disease.
“Although we are not happy about the low sales, but we are happy that people are now conscious about happenings around them and therefore are taking precautions.
“We are praying that the concerned authority should quickly find cure or solution to this disease, otherwise, we may need to find new businesses for ourselves,’’ he said.
A resident, Miss Gloria Adams, who was seen buying some snails, said she usually buys bush meat, but she has decided to settle for snails for now.
“I want everybody concerned to increase the level of sensitisation so that the causes, mode of transmission and effects of the disease can be fully understood, especially for uneducated persons and those in the rural areas, she said.
She also called on the government to strengthen health care services and research institutes, so that the country would not be thrown into confusion.
Mr Moses Emeka, a student, said the current happenings around the world were signs of end time, and urged the human race to turn back to God.
Mrs Olafunke Atiku, a fashion designer, claimed to know about the disease in her church.
A food vendor, Mrs Rebecca Ojo, said she was aware of the Ebola virus and its mode of transmission.
According to her, she no longer sells bush meat but goat meat.
Ojo, however, said government should include the distribution of handbills, motorised rallies and jingles in the different local languages to create awareness at the grassroots. (NAN)
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