Khofifah's Strategy To Prevent PMK Virus, Regents-Mayors In East Java Asked To Form A PMK Handling Task Force

SURABAYA - Handling the spread of the Mouth and Nail Disease (FMD) virus in East Java continues to be carried out. Most recently, the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, instructed regional heads in their regions to form a joint Task Force for handling PMK in their respective regions.

"This task force will be a combination of the ranks of the TNI, Polri, and related institutions. The Regent and Mayor, please immediately issue a decree for the formation of this PMK Task Force in coordination with the Dandim and the Head of the Resort Police. Especially at the points of collection of sacrificial animals. So today it must be more restrictive a place where people can access sacrificial animals," said Khofifah, Monday, May 30.

In addition, Khofifah also asked the regent/mayor to immediately issue a Circular (SE) regarding guidelines for slaughtering sacrificial animals. One of them is by determining the location of the slaughter of sacrificial animals at certain points of the Slaughterhouse (RPH), so that the monitoring process can be more controlled.

Later, said Khofifah, this monitoring and checking will be focused on a number of areas in East Java which have the highest beef cattle population. For example, Sumenep Regency, Tuban Regency, Probolinggo Regency, Jember Regency, and Bangkalan Regency.

"Because these areas are not only suppliers of sacrificial animals in East Java itself, but also other areas and even other provinces," he said.

Not only that, the Regent and Mayor must immediately prepare a budget for the procurement of medicines, supporting facilities for controlling and operating PMK vaccination officers. As well as mapping the status of free, infected and suspected based on sub-district or village.

"Then also collect data on the number of village-based FMD susceptible animals for vaccination readiness and preparation of human resources, including 950 veterinarians in East Java and 1,500 veterinary paramedics. This is for the implementation of mass treatment and vaccination," he said.

Khofifah also asked the ranks of the TNI and Polri, both the Kodim and Polres, to take follow-up steps to control PMK in East Java. Namely assistance for supervision of isolation and lockdown, for infected areas (villages/districts), assistance for supervision of temporary closure of animal markets.

In addition, assistance in monitoring livestock traffic from areas infected with FMD, assistance in socializing the importance of disinfection of cages and the livestock environment, as well as assistance in securing the implementation of mass treatment and vaccination.

"Please Bhabinkamtibmas and Babinsa to take part in guarding, overseeing, including traffic blantik or cattle slaughterers who buy very cheap cows who experience symptoms towards FMD in villages. In principle, breeders must be protected," he said.