The head of the Gunung Kiduls Livestock Service, Krishna Diamonds, stated on Monday that as per the interim data, of the sacrificial animals examined, three were found to have been infected with the disease.
A total of 318 heads of cattle, 653 heads of goats and 88 heads of sheep were examined.
"During the exercise, officers found liver fluke disease in three sacrificial animals in the regions of Piyaman and Wonosari, but we are still continuing with the inspection. The data is still temporary," added Krishna.
He noted that medically, since the disease tends to be serious, the affected parts should be destroyed. He claimed that he has ensured that the meat of sacrificial animals is safe for consumption.
"Actually, it does not matter because the disease is not contagious. Its just that beef liver is unfit for consumption," he stressed.
Krishna explained that the cause for liver worms breeding was contaminated foraged food with heartworm eggs. The sacrificial animals must have eaten such food.
He also pointed out that most of the contaminated livestock had come from outside Gunung Kidul.
Krishna informed that 144 officers and 25 medical students from the UGM University will continue to monitor sacrificial animals in the coming three days.
"We will continue to monitor these for the next three days, thus undertaking the exercise even after the Eid al-Adha," he observed.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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