Gresik, Lamongan, Sidoarjo And Mojokerto Are Prone To PMK, Bakauheni Quarantine Tightens Animal Supervision

JAKARTA - The Lampung Quarantine Center through the Bakauheni service unit has tightened supervision and mobility of livestock to prevent the spread of mouth and nail disease (PMK) in the area.

Head of the Lampung Quarantine Service Unit for the Bakauheni working area, End of Santoso, explained that the quarantine center is at the forefront of supervision at the entrance and exit of animals, fish, and plants, from an area or country.

"This is in line with the circular from the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture to supervise livestock traffic. The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a Circular Letter of the Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency Number 12950 / KR.120 / K / 05/2022 concerning Increased Vigilance of Mouth and Nail Diseases or PMK," he said in South Lampung, Wednesday, January 8, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, in the circular, it was stated that several regions in Indonesia had been labeled as areas with livestock vulnerabilities against the PMK outbreak.

"These areas include Gresik, Lamongan, Sidoarjo, and Mojokerto. Other areas where there have been no cases of the PMK outbreak are therefore we are asked to avoid the possibility of livestock traffic from and to the infected area," he said.

Therefore, the Bakauheni regional quarantine service unit tightens animal documents from the area of origin.

"We checked in detail the documents and physically if everything is good, healthy, then traffic can be crossed," he said.

He explained that the important role of the quarantine center is especially in preventing the entry of animals, fish, and plants, from outside areas that have the potential to carry disease pests or viruses that can threaten the availability of national food, so far not much has been known to the public.

"This PMK outbreak is a serious concern for the government because it is considered detrimental. Various efforts have been prepared to anticipate so that this PMK outbreak does not spread, especially in Lampung," he said.

He said that the general requirements for sending animals classified as vulnerable to PMK are that they must be equipped with a Veterinary Certificate (SV) from the area of origin, which includes information that they have gone through a 14-day quarantine or observation period and are equipped with a recommendation for income from the destination area and recommendations for expenditure from the area of origin.