Death Cases Due To PMK Increase In West Java, 1 Market In Tasikmalaya Closed

Acting (Pj) Governor of West Java (Jabar) Beyvi Machmudin. (Between)

JABAR - Acting Governor of West Java (Jabar) Beyvi Machmudin admitted that there was an increase in cases of Mouth and Nail Disease (PMK) in livestock in 14 districts/cities in the province.

Due to this incident, dozens of livestock were infected with PMK in West Java and one traditional market had to be closed to prevent transmission.

"There has been an increase in cases in 14 regencies/cities. A total of 53 livestock have died in West Java. And from DKPP, one market, namely Manonjaya (Tasikmalaya) is temporarily closed," said Bey in Bandung, Monday, January 13, quoted by Antara.

As an anticipation, his party will immediately vaccinate to prevent the expansion of the PMK case. "We will start vaccination tomorrow for anticipation and prevention," said Bey.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the West Java Food and Livestock Security Service (DKPP) Siti Rohani detailed that 1,420 livestock were infected with PMK, with 53 dead livestock, spread across Bandung, West Bandung, Bekasi, Bogor, Cirebon, Karawang, Banjar City, Cirebon City, Kuningan Regency, Pangandaran, Purwakarta, Subang, Sumedang, and Tasikmalaya.

Due to the increase in cases, said Siti, Pasar Manonjaya Tasikmalaya had to be temporarily closed from January 14 to January 27, 2025 for disinfection.

"Meanwhile, we are waiting for the others, because of that everything must come from the district, for the district area, but we have given a circular letter, regarding the increase in early vigilance against the increase in infectious animal disease," said Siti.

The PMK case in West Java, continued Siti, was observed for the first time in Bandung Regency in December, which was informed that livestock came from East Java. Therefore, the official asked that livestock entering from outside West Java must be tested for health first.

"So there has been a letter, urging farmers from outside West Java to enter the check point first. Indeed, before entering West Java, they have been tested. But on the way, PMK is by air, yes, so maybe when it enters West Java, it has been affected, so there needs to be an examination," he said.

His party plans to provide vaccines to livestock with a budget of IDR 1.5 billion for 52 thousand doses for 26 thousand livestock, considering that one livestock must be given twice. The vaccine will be distributed directly to farmers. Meanwhile, associations, cooperatives and companies are required to provide independent vaccines.

"So we only provide it for farmers, so there must be collaboration, because one cow costs quite a lot, when companies or for example associations don't want to issue one dose of vaccine, because one tail must have two vaccines, so in one year it must be twice," said Siti.

Even so, Siti revealed that there is a potential for vaccines to be provided insufficient, given the lack of budget, so they proposed additional doses of vaccine to the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

Ideally, said Siti, the dose of vaccine for livestock in West Java is more than 1 million, considering that there are more than 500 thousand livestock populations in West Java.

"Alhamdulillah, we were given the request at 114 thousand, but instead he said we wanted to add it. Last night we got 20 thousand doses of vaccine. So tomorrow we have to run to places. What might be prioritized is this first, the 14 regencies/cities. Then later to other regencies/cities. Back again, if cooperation between associations, cooperatives and companies, God willing, is safe," said Siti.

Siti added that the livestock infected with PMK are still safe and there is no problem for public consumption. "The farmers who have been infected with PMK are safe. That means it doesn't matter as long as they are cooked really," he said.