Government Creates Task Force For Handling PMK To District And Village Levels

A veterinarian examines farm animals suspected of contracting mouth and foot disease (FMD) in Bandung. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, said the government would form a task force for treating oral and nail diseases (Satgas PMK).

"We will handle PMK at the micro level such as the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), so that later there will be a PMK Task Force to sub-districts and villages," said Susiwijono, quoted from Antara, Friday, June 10.

He explained that foot and mouth disease (PMK) has infected livestock in 18 provinces and 163 regencies/cities in the country.

For information, FMD in livestock is caused by a virus that is very easily transmitted between livestock and mainly attacks hoofed animals.

The process of transmission can be through direct contact and the wind, but this disease is not transmitted to humans.

On May 5, 2022, the first positive case of PMK was reported in East Java Province in four regencies namely Gresik, Sidoarjo, Lamongan, and Mojokerto and on May 7, 2022 in Aceh Province, Aceh Tamiang Regency, to be exact.

Not only for livestock, said Susiwijono, PMK is likely to have an impact on the economy, especially exports.

This is because some cows from Indonesia are considered to have the potential to be carriers of the virus, which in turn has an impact on other sectors.

"We will seriously handle this, as well as various other issues that we will deal with with priority," he said.

In addition to the Task Force, he said, his party is preparing budget support for handling PMK in the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program.

Thus, domestic issues will continue to be handled properly, especially related to food which directly impacts the needs of the community, before the government contributes to the global market.