Mouth And Nail Diseases Enter East Lombok, Immediately Found In 243 Livestock

JAKARTA - Foot and mouth disease (PMK) that attacks livestock is now starting to worry. This disease is reported to have been found in the district of East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

The East Lombok Regency Government immediately took preventive steps to stop the spread of PMK. The district government is concerned that this problem has the potential to cause social unrest.

"The latest data in East Lombok, there are 243 cattle that have been confirmed to have FMD," said Head of the Livestock and Animal Health Service of East Lombok Regency, Ir Mashyur, as reported by Antara, Saturday, May 14.

Hundreds of cows affected by the disease or PMK virus spread in Aikmel District, 92 of them recovered. Meanwhile in Suela sub-district, 26 animals have recovered and 10 are still being treated. Then Labuhan haji six tails, Spectacles Montong Gading two recovered.

While in the Wanasaba area 43 recovered, eight were still being treated and one in Selong District.

"In Pringgabaya two tails, Forced Cut one tail. Many have recovered," he said.

FMD is an acute animal disease and has a morbidity rate of 90-100 percent in split-hoofed animals. Among them are cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs. The spread of this disease is very fast, but it is not zoonotic (not contagious/safe in humans).

"We have taken several preventive measures long before there were new cases by mobilizing all veterinarians in East Lombok," he said.

In the near future, the East Lombok Regency Government will close the animal market starting Monday, May 16, for the next three weeks. In addition, closing every farm pen for a while, considering this step is the only way to break the chain of spread at this time, in addition to working on vaccines for livestock.

"The only way to break the chain of spread is to close all access that limits the mobility of farmers," he said.

The distribution of livestock in the district, said Mashyur, is the authority of the NTB Province, so it is hoped that this outbreak will be a valuable lesson.

He also appealed to farmers not to panic and be patient. Due to this epidemic, farmers are asked not to sell their livestock at low prices, especially since the potential for recovery from FMD in East Lombok is quite high.

"Farmers should not panic first, have more patience and increase vigilance by complying with all government directives," he said.