All Animal Markets In Central Lombok Closed

PRAYA - The government of Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) stated that all animal markets were temporarily closed in order to prevent the spread of the mouth and nail disease (PMK) epidemic that has attacked hundreds of cows in the local area.

"We are closing this for the good of the community, so as not to lose money," said Central Lombok Regent H Lalu Pathul Bahri in Praya as reported by Antara, Monday, May 16.

In addition to closing the animal market in Barebali Village and Batunyale Village, the local government has also closed access to and from sending cattle between islands, both from Sumbawa to prevent the spread of the FMD virus.

"Cows from Sumbawa Island are not allowed to enter," he said.

The closure carried out by the local government in order to prevent the spread of the FMD outbreak is nothing but for the good of the community. So that his party hopes that all levels of society will support the efforts made to prevent the PMK from spreading in the local area.

"I hope the community will also support the local government's steps," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Agriculture and Livestock Service Office of Central Lombok Regency, Lalu Taufikurahman, said that in connection with a disease outbreak affecting animals in the local area which had been confirmed positive for FMD based on the results of the Dempasar Bali laboratory, to anticipate the spread of the outbreak, the regional government would close the movement of traffic flows including cattle. and goats by closing all animal markets.

"This closure is effective from May 14 to June 4, 2022," he said.

Several steps have been taken by the local government to prevent the spread of the epidemic by treating all cattle affected by the epidemic and spraying disinfectants for sterilization and increasing the immunity of the cattle.

"Of the hundreds of cows that were affected, none died. We urge the public not to panic," he said.

Previously, hundreds of cattle in the Central Lombok Regency area were positive for the virus or mouth and nail disease (FMD) like the one that spread in East Java Province.

"The Central Lombok Agriculture and Livestock Service has received the results of the samples that have been sent to the Denpasar Lab, the results are positive for PMK which causes infections in the oral cavity," said Head of the Agriculture and Livestock Service Office of Central Lombok Regency, Lalu Taufikurahman in Praya.

The spread of this FMD virus began to spread to two sub-districts, where before in Kelebuh Village, Central Praya District, there were 63 individuals and now it has increased to 150 individuals in Puyung Village, Barejulat Village, Jonggat District.

"The symptoms experienced are almost the same, so the cattle population is suspected of PMK," he said.