11 Livestock Exposed To FMD, 2 Animal Markets In Kudus Closed

The atmosphere at the Gulang Animal Market, Kudus, Central Java. (ANTARA/Akhmad N)

KUDUS - The government of Kudus Regency has closed two animal markets in the local area as a measure to anticipate the spread of foot and mouth disease (PMK).

The Regent of Kudus Hartopo said the closure was also based on 11 confirmed cases of PMK in Kudus which caused one livestock to die.

"In addition to having dozens of livestock that were positive for PMK and one of them died, there were also hundreds of suspicious livestock," Hartopo said in Kudus, quoted from Antara, Friday, June 3.

He also instructed the Agriculture and Food Service to immediately coordinate with the Trade Office in closing the animal market in Kudus.

For livestock that are still suspected of having PMK status, they are asked to continue to be monitored because previously those who were tested positive have also recovered, while there are also suspected cattle that have recovered.

In addition to being asked to increase the supervision of livestock traffic, the Agriculture Service is also asked to continue to monitor exposed livestock by giving injections of antibiotics and vitamins.

The Head of Livestock at the Agriculture and Food Service of Kudus Regency Agus Setiawan added that his party immediately coordinated with the Market Service regarding the closure of animal markets in Kudus, namely the Jurang Animal Market, Gebog District and Gulang Animal Market, Mejobo District.

Meanwhile, the number of cases of finding livestock, both suspected and positive for PMK, is currently 365. A total of 11 of them tested positive for FMD after being tested in the laboratory, the rest were suspected.

Of the 11 tails, three of them are buffalo and the rest are cows. While one livestock that died was a cow.

For livestock suspected of PMK, he said, the results of the assistance from officers have now recovered a lot because it was recorded that there were 76 cattle that were declared cured, including cattle that previously tested positive for PMK.