JAKARTA, Oct 5 — Indonesia has stepped up measures to control anthrax among livestock in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, after laboratory tests found several samples collected from a village positive for Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes the disease.
The Agriculture Ministry's Animal Health director Hendra Wibawa said an epidemiological investigation was conducted in Dadapayu Village on September 11, followed by disinfection of affected livestock shelters and treatment of animals the next day.
Antibiotics and vitamins were administered to 88 goats and 11 cattle on September 14, while anthrax vaccination for livestock in the surrounding area began on Monday (September 28) after the antibiotic treatment period ended.
“The response is being carried out in an integrated manner. Animal health officers and local authorities have conducted epidemiological investigations, provided livestock health services, carried out disinfection and vaccination, and conducted laboratory examinations,” he said in a statement, adding that surveillance is continuing.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, anthrax is a serious zoonotic disease that primarily affects livestock and wild animals but can also be transmitted to humans through infected animals or contaminated animal products.
Hendra said people with a history of exposure to affected livestock or animal products received treatment and prophylactic medication from health authorities, while any remaining meat that had not been cooked or consumed was destroyed according to procedure.
He urged residents not to slaughter, process, distribute, or consume livestock that are sick or die suddenly, and to immediately report such cases to animal health officers.
