North Aceh Regency Government Closes Animal Market To Prevent FMD

BANDA ACEH - The district government of North Aceh has temporarily closed the animal market to prevent the spread of an epidemic of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Head of the Plantation, Livestock and Animal Health Office of North Aceh Regency, Lilis Indriansyah, said that currently hundreds of cattle are indicated to have Foot and Mouth Disease.

"The closure of the animal market is carried out to prevent livestock from being exposed to Foot and Mouth Diseases which have an impact on farmers' losses", she said, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 20.

According to her, the closure of the animal market is temporary. The animal market will reopen if the transmission and spread of Foot and Mouth Disease disease can be handled.

Currently, as many as 139 cattle in North Aceh Regency are indicated to be exposed to foot and mouth disease. The certainty of the 139 cows being positive or not is still waiting for the results of laboratory tests.

Her party will continue to evaluate the condition and situation of the spread of FMD in the North Aceh Regency by providing 13 locations of animal health centers.

"The evaluation is carried out while continuing to do massive spraying of disinfectants, administering medicines and vitamins for sick cattle as well as socializing and educating farmers about how to handle Foot and Mouth Diseases", she said.

In addition, Lilis Indriansyah appealed to the public, especially farmers, to immediately report to the officers if there is livestock that is indicated Foot and Mouth Diseases so that they are handled immediately so that they do not spread to other livestock.

"This Foot and Mouth Disease spreads quickly and heals quickly if it is treated immediately. So, people don't need to panic if their livestock is exposed to the virus", she said.