Tangerang safe from anthrax

TANGERANG: Residents living on the border of the Bogor regency should not be afraid about the spread of anthrax that recently killed six people in the area, a Tangerang official said on Friday.

Animal Husbandry Agency head Didi Aswadi said the agency had sent a monitoring team to the adjacent districts of Pamulang, Ciputat, Cisauk, Cisoka and Jambe.

"The team has examined animals and monitored slaughter houses since last week. However, it has yet to find any anthrax cases," he said.

Comprising of veterinarians and health workers, the group will continue its checks until the New Year holidays.

Despite the preventive measures, meat vendors at traditional markets said they were not aware of anthrax cases.

Makmun, a meat vendor at Anyar Market, said there was an increase of meat sales on the first and second days of Ramadhan.

"I believe the sales will rise again after the 15th day of Ramadhan," he said. -- JP