ID :
58295
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58295
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GOVT TO CONDUCT CHECKS ON PIGS TO PREVENT SWINE FLU
Jakarta, April 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will soon conduct surveillance or checks on around seven million pigs in the country to prevent a swine flu outbreak.
Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said here on Wednesday although until now there had been no report of a swine flu case in the country his office had to remain alert.
"We will conduct surveillance on the pig population and the result will be made known in two weeks' time," he said.
He said surveillance operations would be focused on pig farming centers such as in Bulan Island.
Pig farming centers in the country are to be found in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, Papua, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra and Batam.
According to the directorate general of animal husbandry the pig population in the country now reaches 7.5 million heads, mostly in East Nusa Tenggara (around 1.6 million), Bali (900,000), West Kalimantan (876,000), North Sumatra (760,000), South Sulawesi (530,000), Papua (507,000) and 2.2 million others spread in several other regions.
The minister said he would also ask local administrations to monitor pig farms in their respective areas. He said the local administrations must conduct close monitoring on pigs, pork and processed pork.
The minister also called on pig farm owners to report to the offices concerned if they found swine flu symptoms in their animals such as fever, inflammation on nose and eyes and loss of appetite to eat.
He said the government had already banned imports of pigs, pork and its derivatives. "Only imports of processed pork are allowed," he said.
According to the directorate general Indonesia imports 100 to 3,000 tons of pork products a year. Imports in 2008 totaled 2,600 tons of mixed pork products including high quality meat.
Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said here on Wednesday although until now there had been no report of a swine flu case in the country his office had to remain alert.
"We will conduct surveillance on the pig population and the result will be made known in two weeks' time," he said.
He said surveillance operations would be focused on pig farming centers such as in Bulan Island.
Pig farming centers in the country are to be found in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, Papua, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra and Batam.
According to the directorate general of animal husbandry the pig population in the country now reaches 7.5 million heads, mostly in East Nusa Tenggara (around 1.6 million), Bali (900,000), West Kalimantan (876,000), North Sumatra (760,000), South Sulawesi (530,000), Papua (507,000) and 2.2 million others spread in several other regions.
The minister said he would also ask local administrations to monitor pig farms in their respective areas. He said the local administrations must conduct close monitoring on pigs, pork and processed pork.
The minister also called on pig farm owners to report to the offices concerned if they found swine flu symptoms in their animals such as fever, inflammation on nose and eyes and loss of appetite to eat.
He said the government had already banned imports of pigs, pork and its derivatives. "Only imports of processed pork are allowed," he said.
According to the directorate general Indonesia imports 100 to 3,000 tons of pork products a year. Imports in 2008 totaled 2,600 tons of mixed pork products including high quality meat.
