Handling Outbreaks of FMD Foot and Mouth Disease in Indonesia

Veterinarians check the mouth of a cow before injecting a dose of the foot-and-mouth vaccine at a farm in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 29 June 2022.

A dose of the foot-and-mouth vaccine at a farm in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 29 June 2022. Source: EPA

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Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is very feared because it causes huge losses to the livestock sector. Many countries that are already free of PMK have set very strict rules for the entry of meat and processed products, in order to maintain the FMD-free status.

The disease caused by this virus also has no cure to date. Animals, especially those affected by FMD, experience a kind of sore in the mouth, which causes a large amount of saliva to come out. In addition, FMD also attacks the feet, and can cause decay in that area.

Vaccines are the only proven way to help livestock fight the FMD virus.

However, in Indonesia, especially in Central Java, cattle farmers apply a unique strategy, namely by giving empon-empon, or herbal raw materials, which are usually consumed by humans to cows. Uniquely, this method is considered quite successful by farmers.

At least it helps cows fight the bad effects of FMD, although that doesn't mean they are completely free.

Asqowi, a dairy farmer who produces milk in Boyolali, Central Java, will tell about his unique way of fighting the FMD virus, using natural herbal ingredients, which are commonly consumed by humans.

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