In Order To Be Protected From PMK, The Ministry Of Agriculture Reminds The Public To Ask For An Animal Health Certificate When Buying

Veterinarians examine cows to prevent the spread of an outbreak of the mouth and nail disease (FMD) virus. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Director of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) Syamsul Ma'arif reminded the public to request an animal health certificate as one of the steps to deal with the mouth and nail disease (PMK) epidemic ahead of Eid al-Adha.

"Later, when people buy their animals, at least ask for an animal health certificate from our field officers," he said in a virtual discussion organized by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) followed by Jakarta, Antara, Friday, July 1.

Officers have been deployed to carry out surveillance ahead of Eid al-Adha, starting from the animal sales point until later when the sacrificial animal is slaughtered.

With the existence of an animal health certificate, it can provide assurance that the sacrificial animal has not shown clinical symptoms due to infection with FMD.

"We hope that the Mosque Prosperity Council or the slaughterhouses if they accept sacrificial animals, it would be better to receive the livestock together with a certificate of animal health," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also instructed stalls selling sacrificial animals and slaughterhouses to report to the department in charge of animal husbandry and animal health in their respective areas.

He also encouraged people after receiving the sacrificial meat not to wash it with water and if they wanted to process the meat, they could immediately boil it as a preventive measure, to kill the virus in the meat.

If you don't want to process it, he suggests putting the meat in the refrigerator.

"Don't wash it, it will pollute the environment later. It's dangerous to other animals, don't wash it," said Syamsul.