Indonesia has begun immunizations against foot and mouth disease across the country

Indonesia – Indonesia’s agriculture ministry announced on Monday that a statewide livestock vaccination program will begin this week, after the number of cattle infected with foot and mouth disease surpassed 151,000.

Some vaccines came on Sunday, and another 800,000 doses will come soon, according to ministry spokesperson Kuntoro Boga Andri. He didn’t specify how many immunizations had been delivered thus far.

He stated that the government would prioritize healthy animals in livestock husbandry centers and cows managed by small farmers, among other things.

The disease has been discovered in 18 of the country’s 34 provinces, with the number of affected animals rapidly increasing from 20,000 just a month ago.

The disease is highly contagious, causing sores and lameness in cattle, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals, but not humans.

Despite the agriculture minister’s preference for locally made vaccinations, which are due to be produced by the end of August, the government plans to import 3 million doses of the disease vaccine from companies in France, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.

For the first time since the late 1980s, lawmakers accused the administration of being negligent in allowing the virus to spread rapidly. They have urged the government to step up measures to stop the disease from spreading further.

The outbreak occurs as Indonesian meat prices rise, just ahead of Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic holiday during which Muslims typically slaughter animals and distribute the meat to the poor.

According to Kuntoro, Indonesia had enough animals for the occasion.

The enteroviruses Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus 71 cause HFMD, which is a prevalent infectious disease (EV71). According to the DOH, infection by the latter is of “special concern” because it can cause serious illness in children, including death. HFMD primarily affects youngsters and is spread through direct contact with infected people’s secretions, such as saliva. Fever that lasts 24 to 48 hours, painful mouth sores and rashes, and blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks are all symptoms.