Govt has mitigated FMD transmission in livestock: minister

Gresik, E Java (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has said that his ministry has managed to mitigate the transmission of foot and mouth disease (FMD), with the number of dead livestock recorded at less than three percent.

"According to the data, out of about two thousand livestock infected with FMD, only 33 of them have died," he informed during a working visit to Gresik district, East Java province, on Tuesday.

The disease spread in four districts in East Java province and two districts in Aceh province, he noted.

"According to the President’s (Joko Widodo’s) directives, we have asked the mayors or heads of the regions to carry out disease technical mitigation attempt, and the governors have been charged with conducting strategic attempts," he said.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry has strengthened mitigation efforts through different measures, such as by sending veterinarians to various regions.

The minister said that although the transmission of the disease has been mitigated, the regional heads must not stop efforts to curb transmission.

"The President has also asked us to close the location (where there are infected cattle, such as markets or farms),” he added.

He said that the attempt has been quite effective in curbing transmission over the past four days of its implementation.

“Still, all parties must continue to work hard (to mitigate the disease)," he emphasized.

Limpo also urged people to remain calm regarding reports of transmission of the diseases since humans cannot contract it. In addition, the infected livestock can be cured.

"Everyone must optimally disseminate the information that the disease cannot infect humans to the public. The information was highlighted by the Health Minister (Budi Gunadi Sadikin) during the limited meeting with the President,” he said

"Hence, we ask the public not to exterminate the cattle,” he added.

He said he expects that the successful mitigation attempt will not disrupt the supply of livestock throughout Indonesia.