Fajarasia.co – The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, requested that the system for handling Foot and Mouth Disease (PMK) that attacks livestock be improved. He encouraged the Government to carry out a kind of antigen test or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for animals that were suspected of FMD.
Improvement of the PMK handling system needs to be done because so far, animal health officers on duty in the field and breeders carry out inspections only based on observations of clinical symptoms that appear from the physical appearance of farm animals.
“I think there needs to be an evaluation of the PMK handling system in all parts of Indonesia. Because the detection of FMD in livestock that is not optimal has an impact on the spread of the FMD virus which is increasingly massive,” said Puan, Sunday (15/7/2022).
“Supposedly, early detection of livestock that are suspected of PMK is carried out using an antigen test or PCR as well as handling Covid-19 in humans,” added the first woman who served as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
With accurate detection, livestock exposed to FMD can be immediately identified even though they have not yet shown physical symptoms. Thus, prevention of spread can be done quickly by quarantining sick livestock.
“We should learn from experience when the Covid-19 virus spread. Prevention through early detection can reduce the spread of the virus,” said Puan.
Moreover, the Government has formed a National Task Force for Handling PMK which is coordinated by BNPB and integrated with several institutions and ministries. Puan asked the PMK Handling Task Force to promote testing of livestock.
“This includes conducting random sampling of livestock, especially in areas that have been included in the PMK red zone,” he said.
Puan also encouraged the Task Force to intensify the treatment and quarantine process for animals infected with FMD. Furthermore, the animal is immediately vaccinated when it has been declared cured.
“Because there is no drug that can treat FMD, increasing animal antibodies is the best way. Giving vitamins to livestock must be in line with the vaccination program,” said Puan.
Meanwhile, for animals that died due to FMD, the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, reminded that the stamping out or extermination procedure should be carried out immediately. Puan also asked the Government to continue to socialize how to handle livestock infected with FMD but it was decided to slaughter them.
Make sure the public knows that meat from livestock that is sick with FMD can still be consumed as long as the slaughter is carried out with special procedures and processed correctly, “he said.
Based on data from the standbypmk.id page, as of today, the total number of livestock exposed to FMD reached 367,146 heads. Then there were 140,970 animals that had recovered, 2,447 dead livestock, and 140,970 that had not recovered.
The number is spread across 22 provinces and 250 regencies/cities for the types of cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and pigs. The vaccination coverage has been carried out on 498,893 livestock.
It’s just that for the Riau Islands and South Sulawesi Provinces, the FMD vaccination rate is still 0. In fact, cases of mouth and nail disease or FMD in South Sulawesi continue to spread with a total of 173 livestock exposed and the province is now in the red zone because the spread of cases was found in Indonesia. some areas.
“DPR encourages the central government to increase synergy with regional governments. PMK vaccination needs to be accelerated so that the number of dead livestock can be reduced as little as possible,” said Puan.
“The death of livestock due to PMK certainly causes losses for farmers, especially home breeders who make livestock as an investment for their future,” he concluded.*****
