Researchers from the Doctoral Program on Environmental Science, Graduate School, Universitas Padjadjaran, Moh. Dede and Prof. Sunardi, together with collaborators from national research institutions, have conducted a comprehensive spatial analysis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks across West Java. This study confirmed FMD cases with eleven socio-economic and environmental factors—including cattle population, cattle output, milk and leather production, imported livestock, elevation, vegetation greenness, and humidity. FMD hotspots emerged primarily in Bandung, Garut, Cirebon, West Bandung, and Kuningan. Through spatial and statistical modeling (Global Moran’s I and Negative Binomial Regression), the team found that these eight variables accounted for 72% of the district-level variation in outbreak incidence.

The insights provide critical guidance for public health and agricultural management, reinforcing the need for stronger biosecurity protocols and farmer awareness in high-risk zones. This research supports key Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) — by safeguarding livestock health and farmer livelihoods, ensuring food security and income stability,

SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) — by reducing animal disease risk with targeted intervention strategies, and

SDG 15 (Life on Land) — by integrating environmental parameters into disease risk mapping, promoting healthier agro-ecosystems.