UNAIR NEWS – The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (PMK) in livestock in East Java and Aceh do not only trouble farmers but also the wider community. In this regard, Prof. Dr. Mustofa Helmi Effendi drh DTAPH from the Veterinary Public Health Division of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) provided education on the ins and outs of PMK and its prevention.
Safe to eat
“This virus comes from split-hoofed animals from countries that are not yet free of PMK. This virus is not from meat,” explained Prof. Helmi at the Interactive Dialogue on Foot and Mouth Disease Control Wednesday evening, May 11, 2022.
Although Indonesia also imports meat from India and Brazil, Prof. Mustofa said that the legal import process must have been checked by the Slaughterhouse (RPH) so that it can be ascertained that the spread of PMK does not come from the meat. Prof. Mustofa said that it was possibly from illegally imported small hoofed animals such as goats or sheep.
“Please eat, it’s safe, but boil or soak first,” explained Prof Mustofa. The technique of boiling or soaking can kill the virus that causes PMK in animals with split hoofs often consumed, such as cows, goats, and sheep.
Not contagious to humans
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) states that animals infected with PMK must be culled. However, Prof. Mustofa emphasized that the concept adopted by developed countries cannot be adopted in Indonesia because it will have a harmful effect on farmers and state finances. Moreover, the virus that causes PMK will die at high temperatures. Thus, animals with PMK are still safe for consumption, and are also not contagious to humans.
However, even though animals with PMK are safe for consumption and not contagious to humans, Prof. Mustofa appealed to breeders to work together to prevent PMK from spreading more widely because the mortality rate, especially in young animals, is quite high.
The first thing that can be done to prevent the spread of PMK is to regularly disinfect the cage. Second, if a disease outbreak occurs in a cage, a quarantine must be carried out in that cage to prevent the disease from spreading more widely.
Third, do not immediately sell animals that have just recovered from PMK because although PMK is a disease that can heal itself after 14-21 days, cows can transmit PMK for up to one year after recovery, and even buffalo can transmit PMK for up to five years after recovering.
PMK Free prediction
Prof. Mustofa conveyed that a strong influence and large funds were needed to truly make Indonesia free of PMK when compared to the losses experienced due to PMK. However, if the funds are sufficient to carry out massive vaccinations, it is estimated that in the next two to three years, Indonesia can be free from PMK. (*)
Author: Tristania Faisa Adam
Editor: Binti Q Masruroh
