Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) was reported to attack water buffaloes in Aceh. This disease causes significant economic loss to farmers if not mitigated properly. HS is an acute disease with high mortality, particularly in animals with clinical signs.

690 Deaths in Gayo Leus District since 2013

Hundreds of livestock, particularly water buffaloes and cattle, owned by citizens in 11 subdistricts in Gayo Leus (Galus) District have died due to HS. Since the end of 2013 until early 2015, at least 690 animals have died from HS. A majority of the dead animals were water buffaloes.

Livestock Division Head for Galus, Imran, on Thursday (27/8) said most of the animals died in their pens, likely due to disease. “Hemorrhagic septicemia was confirmed in dead animals after laboratory testing,” said Imran.

Affected animals release foamy discharge from their mouths and lose appetite. Imran said livestock officers have taken many measures to prevent HS from spreading, however more can still be done.

10 Water Buffaloes in Aceh Barat District Died from HS

About 10 water buffaloes owned by residents in Arongan Lambelek and Kaway XVI subidsticts died from HS in the last two weeks. On August 15, 2015, 6 water buffaloes in Cot Buloh village in Arongan Lambelek suddenly died. Two days ago, 4 similar cases were found in Pasi Meugat village in Kaway XVI.

“An animal health team from our office is investigating the cause,” said Head of the Animal Disease Prevention and Eradication Section of Aceh Barat District Agriculture and Livestock Services, Mukharuddin, DVM yesterday.

Mukharuddin suspects the animals died from acute Hemorrhagic Septicemia. The notion was supported by the fact that the animals were not vaccinated.

Muktaruddin said the Animal Health team has a program to vaccinated animals against HS from village to village to prevent the disease from spreading any further. So far the only report received by Livestock Services was of the 10 water buffaloes that likely died from HS. “Farmer or water buffalo owners whose animals have not been vaccinated are urged to vaccinate their animals to prevent HS. This vaccination measure was taken to prevent more buffalo deaths in the future,” said Mukharuddin. (c40 | riz)

Source: Serambi Indonesia (edited)