KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 — Indonesia has increased monitoring efforts to prevent the entry of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), as the virus that’s deadly to goats and sheep has reportedly spread to Vietnam and Thailand.
Indonesian news agency Antara reported Friday that Indonesian authorities have urged travellers, especially those arriving from the peninsula region, not to bring goats, sheep, or related meat products into Malaysia.
Transportation operators, especially ships entering through Acheh, North Sumatra, and Riau, have also been warned against illegally carrying livestock or their derivatives.
“From past experience, diseases from the peninsula region often reach our territory quickly. This is a serious concern for us,” Indonesia’s Quarantine Agency (Barantin) head Sahat Manaor Panggabean was quoted as saying.
Although PPR isn’t transmissible to humans, Panggabean reportedly stressed that the virus can devastate goat and sheep populations.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), PPR is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to morbidity and mortality rates reaching up to 100 per cent in naive populations of sheep, goats, and certain species of wild ruminants.
PPR, which is present in more than 70 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, has become endemic in many regions, posing a serious threat to farmers’ livelihoods and fragile economies.
Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said in a statement last December 17 that Malaysia remains free from any PPR outbreak and is in the process of seeking official recognition of its PPR-free status from WOAH.
DVS advised livestock farmers to ensure that all newly introduced livestock have a valid movement permit and have been inspected by a certified veterinary officer, as well as to prevent the unauthorised entry of livestock without valid permits, especially those originating from neighbouring countries.
“Although Malaysia does not currently import any ruminant livestock or ruminant products from Vietnam, DVS continues to closely monitor the situation through nationwide PPR surveillance and remains committed to ensuring animal health and the safety of animal-based food, in order to protect veterinary public health and public welfare.”
Malaysia reportedly resumed imports of live cattle and buffalo from Thailand in March 2025.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu reportedly said last September that local livestock farmers in states bordering Thailand would be affected if the smuggling of ruminant animals continued unabated.
He noted that 70,000 heads of cattle were smuggled into Malaysia in 2024.
