Health Ministry Ensures Anthrax Cases in Yogyakarta Under Control

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Helath Ministry had conducted a number of efforts to control Anthrax cases in Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) together with relevant sectors and ensured that there is no new cases found.

"The Ministry of Health has verified the anthrax cases investigated by the investigation team of Kulonprogro Regency Health Office and ensures that there is no other case found in people," said Health Ministry’s Communications and Community Services Bureau Head Oscar Primadi in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/25).

In addition, the Ministry had handed over the communication, information, and education (KIE) materials to DIY and Kulon Progo Regency Health Office, as well as examined the case specimen samples in the Laboratory of Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes). "Efforts on controlling Anthrax have been conducted not only from the health sector but also the livestock sector because animal’s health is controlled in the upstream ativities," he said.

Until now, central and local governments, as well as animal husbandry and health agency continue to carry out intensive Anthrax control. They also provide understanding and public awareness of the threat of zoonotic (animal-sourced) diseases.

He explained that the Kulonprogro Regency Health Office had performed case detection and treatment of patients, laboratory tests, tracking and controlling transmission risk factors, improvement of understanding of health workers in Girimulyo 2 Community Health Center, medical waste management, dissemination of related information to the Heads of Districts, the Heads of Villages and Heads of Coutries, as well as to the Purworejo Regency Health Office. In the mean time, the Yogyakarta Provincial Health Office had facilitated meetings for clinicians throughout Kulonprogro Community Health Center and private practice physicians.

Agriculture Ministry’s Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health had conducted antibiotic treatment to the cattle at the location where people with skin anthrax were found and also to the cattle that were in one cage with dead ones, disinfectant spraying on the location of dead animals, slaughterhouses, as well as the burial place of cattle or cattle dung to kill germs on the ground. It also vaccinated animals in the area where cases of Anthrax were found.

In addition, the remainders of the flesh from infected animals were destroyed. Education and socialization through information, education and dissemination through KIE were also conducted to all village officials and community about the prevention, control, and security of the Anthrax disease.

Previously, since the end of December 2016, it was reported that 16 cases of skin anthrax were found in Kulonprogro and one patient in Sleman was died with presumed of anthrax. (Translator: Erik Limantara)