"It is necessary to strengthen health protocols in livestock to prevent the spread of FMD, especially ahead of Eid al-Adha," Deputy for the Coordination of Health Quality Improvement and Population Development at the Kemenko PMK, Agus Suprapto, stated in Jakarta, Friday.
He remarked that health protocols could be applied in livestock by tightening cattle traffic, maintaining the cleanliness of cages and animal transport trucks, and ensuring the cleanliness of officers coming regularly in contact with animals.
"Thus, the application of health protocols does not only apply to animals but also health protocols for humans, such as officers or breeders, who come in contact with animals, especially when the officers move from one cage to another," Suprapto explained.
This method is expected to prevent virus transmission from one cage to another since humans are also prone to carry this virus, he pointed out.
Moreover, he reminded all parties to apply strict biosecurity to prevent the spread of the virus since the success of livestock cultivation is strongly influenced by strict biosecurity and good livestock health management.
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Biosecurity encompasses a variety of measures that are readied to prevent germs and virus from spreading within and outside the farm
The ministry also expressed optimism that the implementation of vaccines for livestock would run well in a bid to control the spread of FMD in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, pressed for accelerating the distribution of vaccines for livestock in a bid to control the spread of FMD.
"The current population of cattle in Indonesia is around 18 million. To achieve herd immunity, 70 percent of the total population must be vaccinated," he emphasized.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Resinta
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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