"However, the handling must be intensified," he stressed in Gunungkidul on Thursday.
He said he was surprised to learn about the occurrence of anthrax cases in Gunungkidul even though anthrax could appear every year and does not completely disappear.
Anthrax spores can survive for 50 years, he noted.
He said that the number of animal anthrax cases in Indonesia is not as bad compared to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreaks in livestock. However, anthrax can infect humans and cause death.
Based on the Agriculture Ministry's investigation of recent cases, anthrax has caused human deaths only in Gunungkidul, Limpo informed.
To handle the anthrax cases, his ministry will implement three agendas that will need to be carried out in all regions.
First, for every anthrax case finding, regional governments will need to conduct an emergency management agenda, including prohibiting physical contact with animals contaminated with anthrax. Instead, the animals must be burned and buried immediately.
The second agenda is carrying out isolation within a 200-meter radius area around the location where the case was detected.
The third agenda is that the area must also be guarded by the animal health center (puskeswan) with a veterinarian as well.
"Unfortunately, in Gunungkidul, animals contaminated with anthrax virus were butchered and the meat was consumed by the community," Limpo said.
He emphasized that the anthrax case in Gunungkidul was a warning to all parties and one that should not be ignored.
Therefore, he said the public must be educated regarding handling anthrax cases in animals.
Animals infected with anthrax show clinical symptoms such as fever and foaming at the mouth. If the condition gets worse, the animals can die within one to two days, he informed.
During his visit, he also handed over anthrax vaccine assistance in the form of 60,817 doses and other supports worth Rp631,613,132.
About 11,017 doses of the vaccine will be distributed to Gunungkidul district and 12,667 doses to Yogyakarta province. The remaining 37,133 doses will be reserved for the Yogyakarta Veterinary Center.
Gunungkidul District Head Sunaryanta claimed that the anthrax cases in the region are currently under control.
He said one resident died from anthrax, but the publication of the incident could be considered excessive.
He also asked the public to remain vigilant and stay calm.
"We hope that our residents will be optimistic to overcome this problem," he said.
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Translator: Sutarmi, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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