South Kalimantan closely supervising livestock traffic to prevent anthrax

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Head of the South Kalimantan Office of Plantation and Animal Husbandry (Disbunnak) Suparmi said that strict supervision is being conducted on incoming livestock traffic following the discovery of anthrax cases in Yogyakarta.

Even though she assured that anthraz could not grow in South Kalimantan because of the structure of land has high acidity.

“South Kalimantan benefits, because anthrax cannot grow. so what we anticipate is the entry livestock from outside,” said Suparmi after a coordination meeting for data collection on plantation business permits in Banjarbaru, Thursday.

Although anthrax germ cannot grow in acid soil, but can be transmitted by animals that enter from other region.

To anticipate, Disbunnak together with Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine strenghtening supervision of the entry of livestock, especially from areas that already indicated cases of anthrax.

“(Because) South Kalimantan is the destination of livestock from outside, we cooperate with Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine to strengthen supervision on incoming livestock traffic,” Suparmi expounded.

Anthrax is a dangerous disease originates from bacteria with fast spreading rate, attack livestock and can also transmit to humans and can be fatal to cause death.

The Ministry of Health's Director General of Disease Handling and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu stated on Wednesday that three people had died of anthrax in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.

The ministry, along with the local Health Office and Animal Husbandry Office, have been strengthening surveillance to detect residents infected with anthrax, so that they can be treated and hospitalized.

Head of Livestock Division of South Kalimantan Disbunnak Edi Santoso added that all animals or animal products that go into South Kalimantan are required to fulfill requirements, including animal health letter that declares free from anthrax.

Edi expounded that anthrax if infects an animal the process is very fast, it won't take up to 24 hours to die, or the medical term is per acute.

He said that historically anthrax has never existed found in South Kalimantan.

“At least since Indonesia's independence until now this has never happened and in the colonial era there was also no such data,” he said.

Edi explained that in addition to the factor of soil with high level acidity, the quarantine process for animals that takes a few days is also a factor in cattle being free from anthrax.