Five divisions in Sarawak now FMD control areas - Dr Rundi

KUCHING, June 15 (Bernama) -- The divisions of Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Miri and Limbang have been declared as foot and mouth disease (FMD) control areas.

Sarawak Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said these divisions are bordering West and North Kalimantan of Indonesia where active outbreaks of the disease are occurring in their cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep populations.

He said the declaration was made in order for the state’s Department of Veterinary to impose and take all the necessary control measures to prevent the introduction of FMD into Sarawak.

“The control measures being instituted include import ban on livestock and livestock products from Indonesia, monitoring and surveillance of livestock in the high-risk areas and conduct veterinary inspections at the entry points into Sarawak.

“FMD is an acute and highly contagious viral infection of both domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals and these include cattle, buffalo, domesticated deer, goat, sheep, pigs as well as wild boar and deer,” he said in a statement here today.

Dr Rundi said the disease spreads from animal to animal via aerosols, nasal discharges and also from contaminated feeds, beddings and other fomites.

“However, FMD is not a zoonotic disease and it is not a public health concern, as distinct from the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) affecting our young children and caused by a different virus,” he said.

Dr Rundi said Sarawak has been recognised as an FMD-free zone without vaccination by the World Organization for Animal Health since May 2004 and this freedom status was important, especially for international trade in livestock and livestock products, and every effort must be made to prevent this disease entering Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA