Lampung – Zoonotic diseases in Lampung must be quickly eradicated by all parties. Not only Lampung Province Livestock and Animal Health Services, but also other government services and institutions which are part of Lampung Province Zoonoses Control Commission.

“Zoonotic diseases or zoonoses are very dangerous because it can be transmitted from animals to human. Of 178 existing zoonoses, there are 4 high priority zoonoses which should be controlled and eradicated, i.e. rabies, anthrax, brucellosis and avian influenza,” said Head of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Division of Lampung Province Livestock and Animal Health Services, Arsyad, DVM on Monday (16/11/2015).

Dr. Arsyad said eradication targets for these dangerous diseases are not far away. Rabies, for example, is targeted to be eradicated from Indonesian and South East Asian Nations in 2020. Similarly, Avian Influenza is expected to be eradicated in 2018. Meanwhile Lampung is already brucellosis free and on its way to be free from Classical Swine Fever. Anthrax so far has never been reported, but vigilance must be maintained.

Arsyad explained that the main task of Lampung Province Zoonoses Control Commission based on Lampung Governor Decree No. G/441/III.14/HK/2012 is to coordinate zoonoses mitigation efforts and integrate zoonoses coordination programs in Lampung province. “Also identify all problems and obstacles present, including raising public awareness on the importance of zoonoses mitigation,” said Arsyad.

Meanwhile, day to day chair of the commission is led by Public Welfare Division Assistant of Lampung Province Secretariat with Secretaries of Lampung Livestock and Animal Health Services and Lampung Health Services. Members of the commission include Head of Lampung Education Services, Head of Lampung Forestry Services, Head of Transportation Services, et cetera. “In carrying out its duty, the commission must report to the Governor of Lampung.”

However, said Arsyad, it is more difficult in practice. Even until now, there are still many issues and challenges faced in zoonoses eradication efforts, particularly in terms of field application. “As if it is only the task of Livestock and Animal Health Services when actually it is a big job. There needs to be collaboration from all parties. Moreover, 2020 is not far away,” said Arsyad.

Therefore, said Arsyad, crash programs with sufficient funding are needed in the future. For field application during rabies month which falls on September, all members of the Zoonoses Control Commission are expected to act together according to each of the agencies/institutions function in eradicating rabies. Several challenges faced include lack of public participation in dog vaccination, dog catchers, public awareness in schools, human rabies vaccines and serum, et cetera. To implement this crash program, hopefully at the national level it can be motored directly by the Coordinating Minister of Human Empowerment and Culture as Chairman of the National Commission on Zoonoses, at provincial level by the governor, and at district/municipal level by the Regent or Mayor.

According to WHO, one person dies from rabies every 10 minutes. However in rabies cases in Lampung Province is declining in recent years. This year alone until October, no case of human rabies has been reported, meanwhile there were 4 cases of rabies positive animals. Additionally, Lampung Province Governor has instructed the eradication of rabies from Pisang Island in Pesisir Barat District and Tabuan Island in Tanggamus District as a requirement for the islands to become tourist destination sites. (Budhi)

Source: Pemerintah Provinsi Lampung