Deputy Mayor Asks Surabaya Residents Not To Panic 2 Subdistricts Suspected Of PMK

PHOTO ARCHIVES - A veterinarian from the Department of Food and Agriculture Security (DKPP) of Surabaya City, East Java, inspects cattle in the Pakal area, Surabaya City some time ago. (PHOTO ANTARA/HO-Diskominfo Surabaya/2022)

SURABAYA - Deputy Mayor of Surabaya, East Java, Armuji appealed to residents not to panic after finding a number of livestock with suspected mouth and nail disease (PMK) in the Lakarsantri and Sambikerep sub-districts.

"The public should not be too worried because the FMD virus is not transmitted to humans," he said in Surabaya as reported by Antara, Thursday, May 19.

According to him, meat and its derivative products are safe for human consumption, as long as they are processed in the right way, for example by washing, boiling until cooked and not consumed raw.

However, he continued, the Surabaya City Government has taken anticipatory steps towards a wider spread in Surabaya, one of which is by deploying the PMK Task Force from the Surabaya City Food and Agriculture Security Service (DKPP) to the suspect area.

"The PMK Task Force conducts investigations and identification of livestock suspected of PMK," he said.

He explained that if there were areas that were declared to be suspected of PMK, what must be done was to strengthen livestock traffic monitoring, in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 403/ KPTS/ PK.300/ M/05/2022. This means that livestock traffic will be closed at the sub-district and sub-district levels.

"We ask that the livestock are given vitamins, and then those who are identified as sick will immediately take action," he said.

He also appealed to Surabaya residents who have livestock to spray disinfectant regularly and keep the cage clean to anticipate the spread of FMD for livestock.

"Ahead of Eid al-Adha, we will also ensure that livestock entering Surabaya must be in a healthy condition, then pocket a letter from a veterinarian from the area of origin," he said.

In addition, to anticipate the spread of the FMD virus to livestock, not only through socialization at the village and sub-district level, but also through mosques, slaughterhouses and animal breeders.

The socialization, said Armuji, will be carried out every day by DKPP Surabaya by deploying eight teams to farmers and ensuring to the public that the FMD virus is safe for humans.

The Sub-district Head of Karang Pilang Surabaya, Febriadhitya Prajatara, stated that his party had carried out socialization in his work area to the public so that they would not panic and be anxious about the FMD virus. In addition, he also ensures that the livestock slaughtered at the RPH is safe.

One of them is at the Kedurus Slaughterhouse (RPH) in the Karangpilang District.

He said that before the livestock entered the cage, they would first check the health certificate from the city of origin. In addition, health checks by veterinarians and regular spraying of disinfectants are also carried out.

"So people don't need to worry, especially those in Karangpilang District when they want to consume meat. Because the average market in Surabaya is the meat is supplied from the abattoir," said Febriadhitya Prajatara.