Farmer Admits Selling Anthrax-Infested Cattle in South Sulawesi
9 March 2016 19:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Pinrang - A farmer in Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi has admitted to selling beef from cattle that had died from what is suspected to be anthrax. "I sold the beef way under the market price, back in February," said Zainuddin, the 46-year old farmer said on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.
According to Zainuddin, he sold his cattle for Rp 1,5 million per animal - way below the average price in Pinrang, which averages at around Rp 7 to 8 million per animal. Worryingly, Zainuddin also said that he knew that cattle that has been infected with anthrax could cause a public health scare. "I knew the consequences of my actions," Zainuddin said.
Zainuddin's decision to sell of his anthrax-infested cattle has already come to the attention of the Director General for Animal Health and Husbandry for the Agriculture Ministry, Muladno, who found out about the case during a visit to the village of Malimpung in Pinrang Regency on Tuesday, March 8, 2016.
Malimpung is one of the few villages in the area that had suffered from an anthrax outbreak, which had killed scores of local cattle. "Anthrax is highly dangerous if it cross-infects a human, so we call on local farmers to stop supplying beef for their nearby markets until it can be established that their livestock is free from the disease," said Muladno. "Anthrax viruses attack human lymph nodes - it is very dangerous to humans."
The Head of Pinrang's Agency for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Johanis, said that his officials are coordinating with the Trade Agency to anticipate the spread of anthrax-tainted beef in the area. "In addition to stepping up our vaccination program, we routinely sample beef from local markets to see whether the anthrax virus is present or not - but to date, we have yet to find any tainted sample," Johanis said.
Scores of cattle had died in Malimpung in the past two weeks - as per Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 31 cows and 5 oxen have suddenly died from what is suspected to be anthrax, causing panic among local residents and farmers.
DIDIET HARYADI SYAHRIR
