Ministry Of Health Reports 3 DIY Residents Died As A Result Of Antraks Infected With Livestock

Illustrations of health workers examining cows for sacrificial animals at the Slaughterhouse (RPH) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported that three residents in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), died from an anti-extraction that was transmitted from livestock.

"If there are three cases of death in Semanu District, Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta," said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 4.

The Ministry of Health is still investigating the epidemiology of these cases in two sub-districts, namely Semanu, and Karangmojo, to measure the spread to the exact cause of virus transmission.

Temporary results to date have collected 93 positive anti-extraction patients in the area based on the results of serological tests. Meanwhile, the results of the examination of all cases of death through genome sequencing showed positive results of anti-extraction.

"During the examination, it showed positive results of anti-extraction in his body," said Nadia.

He said the attracting case in Gunung Kidul was the first case in 2023 after reported zero in the previous year.

"So far, only cases in Gunung Kidul have occurred this year with a total of 93 positive serology and we are still investigating epidemiology," he said.

Nadia added that some of the patients were still being treated and some had been declared cured.

The temporary assumption was that the incident was caused by beef consumption which took place during the celebration of Eid al-Adha 1444H/2023, because Gunung Kidul Regency was included in the anti-extraction endemic area.

"Cows can be infected while eating grass containing antrax virus. There is also a possibility that the anti-extrax virus that has been deposited underground has been lifted due to cultivators' activities, because BETraks can survive for a long time on the ground surface," he said.

For this reason, the community is advised to be selective in sorting out the quality of beef, especially those from livestock on an anti-exact endemic plantation.

To the surrounding community, Nadia advised that livestock activities be equipped with personal protective equipment such as boots, gloves, and clothes that cover all parts of the body.