Not 5.4 Million, Only 20,723 Cattle Infected With FMD In 16 Provinces

Illustration of a veterinarian from the Agriculture and Livestock Service Office of Sidoarjo injecting antibiotics into a cow. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Director General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nasrullah, emphasized that there was misinformation circulating about livestock that contracted mouth and nail disease (FMD) not 5.4 million heads, but 20,723 heads.

Nasrullah in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, said the misperception occurred due to an error in reading the population data table and sick animals.

"We will improve the table model published to the public, so that there is no misinterpretation," said Nasrullah as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

In detail, Nasrullah reiterated the data published by the government at the working meeting of Commission IV of the DPR RI as of May 22, 2022.

According to the data, the incidence of FMD occurred in 16 provinces with only 20,723 sick animals or 0.38 percent of the total livestock population of 5.4 million heads in the region.

"The government is trying to reduce the number of illnesses and their spread. We appreciate the steps taken by the regional task force and the National Police who are very proactive in the field," said Nasrullah.

Nasrullah also mentioned that the sick cattle that had been successfully treated were quite significant.

He added that at least 33.29 percent of the sick livestock had recovered.

The zoning strategy or localizing cases only in sick cages is effective in helping FMD not spread.

"We continue to work hard to limit the spread of FMD by restricting livestock traffic from the outbreak area. We treat sick animals especially those with clinical symptoms. We ask for media and community support so that FMD can be resolved immediately," he said.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture as of May 22, 2022, as many as 16 provinces and 82 regencies/cities were infected with FMD from livestock, with a total of 5,454,454 affected and 20,723 sick.

Of the total sick animals, 6,896 were successfully cured or 33.29 percent, 162 or 0.78 percent were forcibly slaughtered, and 142 or 0.69 percent of livestock died.

Provinces affected by FMD include Aceh 315,612 individuals, Bangka Belitung 10,347 individuals, Banten 22,456 individuals, DIY 92,977 individuals, West Java 396,364 individuals, Central Java 768,150 individuals, and East Java 2,569,774 individuals.

Furthermore, West Kalimantan 51,403 individuals, South Kalimantan 83,123 individuals, Central Kalimantan 34,006, Lampung 56,078, West Nusa Tenggara 363,770, Riau 22,596, West Sumatra 107,942, South Sumatra 45,695, and North Sumatra 492,139.