Govt shuts Pelaihari cattle market, works with police to anticipate FMD outbreak

Pelaihari, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Provincial Government and the Tanah Laut District Government decided to close the Sarang Halang cattle market in Pelaihari to anticipate foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

Head of South Kalimantan Plantation and Livestock Agency (Disbunnak) drh. Suparmi, MS when observing the field said that the market closing has begun on Monday (May 16, 2022) and is tighly guarded by the joint forces of the district government, Tanah Laut Police, Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), and Transportation Agency.

“Sarang Halang cattle market is visited every week by livestock traders from outside Tanah Laut, so optimum anticipation is needed with the closure of this market, although information about the closure has been disseminated through various media,” she said.

The closing of the cattle market was one of measures to avoid the FMD to spread to vulnerable cattle and to protect farmers from economic losses due to FMD. This quick step was taken so that the threat of FMD transmission can be controlled and animal trade can return to normal.

Meanwhile, the Emergence Team of the Disbunnak together with the South Kalimantan Police's Directorate of Special Crime Investigation (Ditreskrimsus), and the Tanah Laut  Husbandry and Animal Heath Agency had conducted a monitor after a suspected case of FMD was found in cattle in Bumijaya Village, Pelaihari Sub-district, Tanah Laut.

The result of the monitor in the field showed good progress in the health of the cattle suspected of FMD, after treatment and administration of vitamin, as well as strict biosecurity at the location of self-isolation.

Related news: Tanah Laut tightens control over cattle entering market


On that ocassion, Superior Cattle Breeding Center and Forage Animal Feed (BPTU–HPT) Pelaihari handed over desinfectant assistance to be used in effort to prevent the spread of FMD.

The suspect case of FMD that attacked one cow in Bumijaya Village, was firstly reported on May 12, 2022 by an officer of animal health.

The joint team immediately took countermeasures steps, including sampling by the Banjarbaru Veterinaries Agency and treatment by the Tanah Laut Animal Health team.

Now the FMD suspected cow is reported to be in improved  condition after receiving medical and traditional treatment which can also help increase the animal's immune system.

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