FMD Outbreak Worsens in 2 Regencies in West Nusa Tenggara

TheIndonesia.co - The regional secretary of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has reported that the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak worsened in Sumbawa and Bima regencies as hundreds of new cases reported in the last days.

Lalu Gita Ariadi confirmed that as of August 11, there were 523 and 764 FMD cases in Sumbawa and Bima, respectively.

“Meanwhile, just a few days ago, there were only dozens of cases in the two areas,” Ariadi said on Friday, August 12, as reported by Antara.

The provincial and regencial governments continue to maintain coordination to prevent further transmission of FMD, including by localizing outbreak epicenters and implementing biosecurity.

Authorities also continue to urge farmers to immediately slaughter livestock infected with FMD, but some of them still refuse to do so even though the government provides compensation.

Head of NTB livestock and animal health Ahmad Nur Aulia said the office will continue the efforts to treat infected animals, localize the epicenters, and ensuring the implementation of biosecurity.

“We will localize areas that are currently the epicenters by strictly implementing biosecurity and establishing ring vaccination strategy, so the viral disease does not spread further,” Aulia said.

Farmers are also warned to separate healthy livestock from the sick ones, while efforts to ensure them to slaughter the FMD-infected animals are to continue.