West Nusa Tenggara Police Assist Government In Handling Livestock Diseases In Central Lombok

Activities of police officers with the government when checking the condition of cattle belonging to a livestock farmer group in Kelebuh Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

NTB - The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional Police is assisting the government in dealing with foot and mouth disease (FMD) that appears in a number of cattle in Central Lombok Regency.

The Head of Public Relations of the NTB Police, Commissioner of Police Artanto in Mataram, Friday, May 13, said that the PMK for cattle was identified in two collective cages belonging to the livestock farmer group (KTT).

"It (PMK) is in the collective cage of the Tunas Urip Livestock Farmer Group and in the Raju Rame Livestock Farmer's Group, which is in Kelebuh Village, Central Praya District," said Artanto.

In-depth, he continued, this PMK is categorized as an infectious disease to other livestock. Therefore, the NTB Regional Police offered the government to take immediate action by quarantining the infected livestock.

"So that it doesn't spread to others, the temporary solution for livestock infected with FMD must be quarantine," said Artanto, quoted by Antara.

According to the information he got, this disease is contagious and acute. This is caused by the presence of a type A virus from the Picornaviridae family, genus Apthovirus, which attacks even hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep.

For clinical signs of FMD, he said, high fever with a range of 39-410 degrees Celsius, excessive mucus discharge from the mouth to foam, there were sores such as canker sores on the mouth and tongue, cattle did not want to eat, limping, sores on the feet ending with fingernails detached, difficult to stand, shaking, and the cattle breath faster.

"Actually, since 1986, Indonesia has been declared free of FMD and has been recognized by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) as an FMD-free country in 1990. So the FMD case in Central Lombok was the first time and was reported on Saturday (30/4)," he said.

Agricultural service officers in the field of animal health and veterinary public health in following up on the report, provided treatment and spraying on livestock in the KTT collective cage in Kelebuh Village.

From the existing population, it was identified that around 10 percent of them were suspected of having FMD symptoms. Six samples have been sent to the Denpasar Veterinary Center for laboratory testing.

"As a result, five samples were tested positive for FMD, and one sample was negative. For the negative ones, it is suspected that the virus has not yet reached the FMD symptom indicator," he said.

With these results, Artanto said that his party and the government are committed to continuing to assist livestock farming communities in recovery efforts, both by providing immune vaccines, and treatment, and spraying disinfectants on animals suspected of contracting FMD.

He also ensured that the police responding to this problem will continue to monitor the availability, price and distribution of beef derivative products on the market. The police will also anticipate the sale of livestock suspected of having FMD.

"We will temporarily close the animal market according to the Central Lombok Regent's Circular which will be issued soon," said Artanto.