MOROTAI, In the last two months, the Community Health Center (Puskesmas) of East Morotai Subdistrict in North Maluku Province recorded two patients had died from rabies.

Both patients from East Morotai died after being bitten by a rabid dog. One patient, Son (45), a resident of Buho-buho Village, died on Wednesday (19/12) and another patient, resident of Sesali Jaya Village, died in November 2014. The information was given by Head of East Morotai Community Health Center, Anong Sibua, when contacted on Monday (22/12).

Anong said patient Son died after being bitten by his own dog. The dog bit his hand and the patient was immediately brought to the nearest medical officer to receive first aid. “We received a report from the local medical officer in Buho-buho that Son was bitten by a dog. When we received that report, we immediately contacted Health Services to handle the case and give public awareness,” explained Anong.

After receiving a report from the Community Health Center, officers from Health Services immediately gave public awareness about rabies to Son and the local community. Son was healthy when Health Services came to give public awareness. However, after the officers returned to Daruba, the patient died. “The patient was in good conditions when Health Services came and gave public awareness to the community. But, after they left, Son soon passed away,” said Anong.

Besides the patient from Buho-Buho, a resident from Seseli Jaya also faced the same fate. The patient died because his/her case was not reported to the nearest medical officer after being bitten by a dog. After the patient was in coma, then he/she was brought to the hospital. “The patient in November was referred to a hospital. However because the development was considered fatal, the patient was brought home instead and finally died at home. It is because of late treatment,” said Anong.

Anong also revealed there were 13 cases of dog bites in 2014. However, only 11 patients were saved, while 2 others died.

In response to the high number of dog bite cases, Health Services gave public awareness to 3 villages in East Morotai Subdistrict, namely Sesali Jaya, Hino, and Buho-buho villages. From the public awareness events, Health Services and the people agreed to cull dogs or prevent dogs from free-roaming to stop further deaths. “Currently Health Services is still waiting for rabies vaccines. Once we have that, existing dogs will be culled to prevent rabies in dogs,” Anong explained. (Ota/Gus)

Source: Poskomalut