Lebak – Rabies, a viral zoonotic disease, is now posing a threat to residents of Lebak district after a  person was bitten by a rabid dog.

“We try to cull stray/feral dogs and vaccinate pets to prevent rabies from spreading,” said Head of Lebak District Livestock Service Office, Iman Santoso, in Rangkasbitung, Lebak, Banten on Saturday (30/08).

Iman said Lebak district is still endemic for rabies, which is spread by dogs, cats and monkeys through bite wounds.

Rabies is a threat to residents in Lebak because the stray/feral dog population is estimated to be over 12,000 dogs.

In 2014, five people were exposed to rabies positive animals in Lebak. In 2007, a resident of Bayah Subdistrict contracted rabies from a stray/feral dog and died.

Hence Lebak District was declared rabies endemic until now. The last case of rabies exposure happened to a resident of Rangkasbitung.

“We ask citizens to watch out for possible rabies transmission from animal bites,” he said.

To prevent rabies from spreading, the Livestock Service Office has culled 180 stray/feral dogs using poisoned bait. Almost the entire Lebak District region is endemic for rabies due to the presence of stray/feral dogs.

However, a majority of the stray/feral dog population is found in Bayah, Cilograng, Panggarangan, Cibeber, Cihara, Wanasalam and Cijaku subdistricts because people use dogs to hunt boars in the fores.

“The office continues to vaccinate pet dogs, monkeys and cats against rabies,” he said. []

Source : Rimanews