Asked By The House Of Representatives About The Origin Of PMK Entering Indonesia, Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Answered Still Unknown

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The chairman of Commission IV of the DPR RI, Sudin, questioned the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) regarding the origin of the entry of the Mouth and Nail Disease (FMD) outbreak into Indonesia.

According to Sudin, knowing the origin of the outbreak is very important to take the next steps.

This was conveyed by the Sub-dept. at the Commission IV Working Meeting of the DPR RI with the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan), the President Director of the Logistics Business Entity (Bulog's Managing Director) and the President Director of PT Berdikari (Persero) regarding the Handling of Mouth and Nail Diseases (PMK) today. .

"Don't run here and there, I don't like to know at least. I haven't slept for a week, I just want to know where it (PMK) came from? Honestly say it's from India, it's finished," he said in the Commission IV Working Meeting, Monday, 23 May.

Answering that, the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health (Dirjen PKH) Nasrullah said that the FMD outbreak was discovered in India in 2001. However, it is currently developing in Southeast Asia.

"In 2001 it was found in India, which is currently developing in Southeast Asia," he said.

Hearing this answer, Sub-Department again clarified which Southeast Asian country was meant by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Because, according to him, Malaysia does not have an outbreak of FMD, because it does not have a cattle farm.

"In Malaysia there is no cattle farm, if there are sheep. We can talk openly. We don't blame the ministry, we are sitting here looking for the best solution for this country. That's what I want. Where did PMK come from?," said Sudin.

"Some say from East Java via fishing boats, enter from Malaysia to East Java, get off at Gresik, some say from Aceh, just answer," he continued.

Nasrullah replied that his party still did not know the origin of the disease.

This is because the Ministry of Agriculture is currently still investigating.

"Until now, we don't know (the origin of the FMD outbreak in Indonesia)," he said.

Explaining this, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo said that his party had yet to find the country of origin that was the source of the FMD outbreak in livestock in Indonesia.

"Where it came from, we check to make sure from which (country) it is. However, until now we have not been able to confirm for sure how the virus entered," said Minister of Agriculture Syahrul.

However, Syahrul said, currently the Ministry of Agriculture has found a serotype of the FMD virus in Indonesia with the code O/ME-SA/Ind-2001/e.

Based on the findings of the virus serotype, the Ministry of Agriculture through the Veterinary Farma Center (Pusvetma) in Surabaya is currently making a vaccine for the PMK virus.

"God willing, in a short time," he said.