There are 73 Suspected PMK, Banyumas Suggests Breeders Use Herbal Medicine

The cows were brought in by a broker for the sacrificial cattle from East Java, the epicenter of the FMD outbreak.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANYUMAS — The Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Service (Dinanak) of Banyumas Regency noted that there were 73 suspected cases of mouth and nail disease (PMK) infecting cattle in the Banyumas area since the outbreak began in early May 2022. The number of infected cattle namely 315 cows.

The head of the Banyumas Dinanak, Sulistiono, explained that the suspected case was positive with the appearance of clinical symptoms, but this has not been proven by laboratory tests. Meanwhile, the infected cases are cows that are around a suspect cow.

“That’s the assumption that it has been infected, because the transmission rate is 90 percent to 100 percent. If the body’s immune system is good, no clinical symptoms appear,” explained Sulistiono to Republika.co.idThursday (16/6/2022).

The prevalence of fraud by traders who bring sick cows to the animal market has forced the Dinanak to act decisively by closing the Sokaraja and Ajibarang Animal Markets, Banyumas Regency, from June 4 to 18, 2022. When closed, the number of suspected cases reached 45 cows.

Data from the Education Office as of June 14, 2022, the number of suspected cases PMK reached 67 cows. According to Sulis, the cows with clinical symptoms of PMK or suspected cases were mostly cows from outside Banyumas. The cows were brought in by a broker for the sacrificial cattle from East Java, the epicenter of the FMD outbreak.

“Most of the 80 percent of the suspects are from outside Banyumas. The cows are self-quarantined in the cattle dealer’s stables, because we don’t have a budget for locations and medicines,” explained Sulis.

He said that initially his party provided medicines and vitamins, but the stock had run out. The Dinanak then proposes a budget for the procurement of medicines, vitamins, and disinfectants.

While waiting for the provision of medicines and vitamins, the Dinanak suggested that farmers and traders provide herbal medicines to increase the cow’s immune system. “Don’t buy herbal medicines, make them yourself. Effective, rather than waiting for the right medicine no it’s clear when it will be,” said Sulis.

Regarding the closure of the animal market until Sunday (6/18/2022), he hopes to provide a deterrent effect for qurban cattle brokers to no longer bring sick cows into the animal market. Moreover, sick cows are not in accordance with the conditions of sacrifice.

“If you try to close it for two weeks and after that it’s still no discipline, yes it is closed again,” said Sulis.

In addition, he also hopes that this PMK outbreak can be resolved. Moreover, ahead of Eid al-Adha, the stock of cows at cattle traders in Banyumas is now decreasing. “The stock of 100 cows is usually less, because they only have stock of cattle that were already in before the FMD virus spread. If you are just starting to stock up for sacrificial cows now, many will think about it first,” he said.