December 23, 2024

Indonesia forms task force to combat ASF spread

The Indonesian government has announced the formation of a task force team to address the growing issue of African swine fever (ASF), which has shown an upward trend over the past year.

The decision to establish the task force emerged during a cross-sector coordination meeting. The meeting was led by Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, and attended by the Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin), Sahat M Panggabean.

Minister Hasan noted that while the government has made efforts to manage the disease, the increasing spread of ASF across multiple swine farming centres requires intensified measures.

The meeting revealed that thousands of swine had succumbed to the disease this year, with daily fatalities ranging between three and five pigs. Outbreaks have been recorded in key farming regions, including Bali, North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua.

In Papua, cases have been identified in Nabire and Timika. Minister Hasan expressed confidence that these cases would be addressed, citing previous successful efforts to manage ASF outbreaks in Bali.

The minister clarified that ASF is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. However, the government is deeply concerned about the impact of the disease on pig farmers, particularly in relation to pork supply ahead of the 2025 Christmas and New Year period.

The African Swine Fever Task Force is expected to be operational by the end of the year. It will involve various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Barantin, and other relevant ministries and local governments.

Minister Hasan reaffirmed the government's commitment to resolving the ASF issue, stating that efforts are underway to address the challenges faced by swine farmers and the broader community.

-      Antara