Serious Threat From Finding The Carcasses Of 50 Goats In River River, FMD Virus Can Enter Agricultural Land

JAKARTA - Dozens of goat carcasses were found in the Serang River stream in Susukan District, Semarang, Central Java and have strong indications of being exposed to mouth and nail diseases, it is feared that they will pollute the river.

Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office of Semarang Regency, Wigati Sunu, said that his party had coordinated with the Environment Agency to anticipate the pollution.

According to him, the virus in farm animals that die from mouth and hoof disease is estimated to last up to 40 days in the water.

"The concern is if it flows into agricultural land, if it pollutes the grass which is also used for animal feed," said Wigati, Thursday, June 23, quoted from Antara.

He said samples for clinical trials of suspected transmission of oral and nail diseases had been taken and were being examined by a laboratory at the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the Semarang Police Chief AKBP Yovan Fatika said the investigation into the case was continuing. And the police are also aware of the mode of disposal of 97 goat carcasses into the Serang River stream.

One suspected perpetrator whose information helped dispose of the carcass into the river has been secured.

He explained that the goat carcass was allegedly dumped by unscrupulous livestock delivery service providers from Sumatra. The discarded carcass, he said, was thought to have died while traveling from Sumatra.

"The arrested perpetrator was asked to help dispose of the goat carcass," he said.

Currently, he continued, there are still other perpetrators being hunted, including the brain who ordered the disposal of the carcass.