Central Sulawesi Residents Asked Not To Panic With FMD Outbreak

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

SULTENG - The Provincial Government of Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) asked local residents not to panic about the mouth and foot disease (FMD) epidemic that infects their livestock, such as cows and goats.

Head of UPT Veterinary Department of Plantation and Livestock of Central Sulawesi Province, drh. Erwin Hurudji in Palu, Thursday, May 19, hopes that public consumption of livestock meat in Central Sulawesi will not decline due to the outbreak.

"Until now, we have not received a report and found that there is livestock in Central Sulawesi that are experiencing symptoms of contracting FMD, so people don't panic but stay alert," he said as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the public must take preventive measures by ensuring that the slaughtered meat purchased is free from exposure to viruses and bacteria before consumption and always checks the health of the livestock.

"Then spraying disinfectant in the animal cages to kill bacteria and viruses in the cage so as not to expose the livestock. This is a prevention effort that we do because we can't see viruses and bacteria," he said.

Erwin explained that the purchased livestock meat should not be washed. Before consumption, the meat is cooked at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius first to kill the viruses and bacteria contained in the meat.

He stated that the public can independently check whether the livestock is being kept as potentially infected with FMD or not through a number of observations with the naked eye, including observing the mouth and the legs of the livestock.

In cattle infected with FMD, he continued, foam usually appears at the mouth. In addition, the upper and lower gums blister, causing bleeding.

"The groin, feet, and nails of livestock infected with FMD usually also blister and cause injuries. Usually, due to cuts and blisters, the livestock limps. Livestock infected with FMD are livestock that has an even number of nails, such as cows, goats, and some even-toed birds," he said.

If from the initial observations, livestock experience symptoms similar to being infected with FMD, he asks livestock owners to take preventive measures, such as separating cattle experiencing FMD symptoms from healthy livestock.

In addition, he asked the community, especially livestock owners, to immediately report to local animal health officers if they found livestock experiencing symptoms similar to FMD so that they could receive treatment and prevention as soon as possible.