Livestock Infected With FMD In Solok Increase, Total Becomes 92 Cases

Officers are taking samples of cows suspected of having FMD. (Photo: ANTARA)

PADANG - Livestock such as cattle and buffalo in Solok Regency, West Sumatra is positive for foot and mouth disease (FMD) based on the results of samples sent by the Solok Regency Agriculture Service to the Bukittinggi Veterinary Center, which increased to 92 cases.

"Since Thursday, June 2, the number of FMD cases in Solok Regency has been recorded to have increased to 92, with samples from nine villages," said Acting Head of the Solok Regency Agriculture Service Kenedy Hamzah in Solok, Saturday.

Kenedy said the FMD cases were found in Nagari Sumani, Nagari Koto Laweh, Nagari Cupak, Dilam, Jawi-Jawi, Kotobaru, Bukit Kandung, Aia Cold, and Nagari Muaro Paneh.

He said there were 23 cases of FMD in Nagari Sumani.

The details are 19 cows and four buffaloes. However, six of them have recovered.

In Nagari Muara Panas, 32 infected cows were found and one was forcibly slaughtered.

Then, in Nagari Koto Laweh, four cases were found, one was dead and the other was forcibly slaughtered.

Kenedy explained that the cows that were forcibly slaughtered were cows whose condition was critical and there was no chance of recovery.

"The meat can be consumed because this disease is not zoonotic or not contagious to humans or vice versa," he said.

Furthermore, he said, cases of FMD against livestock were also found in Nagari Cupak with 10 heads, Dilam with eight, Jawi-Jawi with six, Koto Baru with six, Bukit Kandung with one, and Air Cold with two.

In addition, he continued, the Solok Regency Agriculture Service sent officers to the field to continue to take precautions by spraying disinfectant liquid into the infected cattle pens.

"Then also treat cows and buffaloes infected with FMD," he said.

According to Kenedy, FMD is a viral attack that has the potential to spread quickly.

For this reason, he asked farmers and traders to isolate livestock so that the spread of FMD in Solok Regency does not expand.

"We are also trying to outreach to the community, spraying disinfectants into livestock cages, administering treatment, and monitoring farmer groups," he said.