Denpasar – Head of Bali Province Health Services, Ketut Suarjaya said all districts/city in Bali are rabies red zones. Additionally, a rabies outbreak status is still being declared for Bali.

“A red zone criteria means many dogs were found positive for rabies by Livestock Services. Currently the number of dog bite cases average between 100 and 110 per day. This is a slight decline from the previous average of 120 to 130 bites. The outbreak status was declared in 2008 and has not been lifted since then,” said Suarjaya in Denpasar on Wednesday (7/10).

Suarjaya hopes everybody can participate in rabies mitigation efforts. “If only all 716 villages in nine districts/cities in Bali actively made awig-awigs and perarems (written society norms and rules) to control dogs, then Bali can be free of rabies,” he said while referring to Bali Province Regional Regulation No. 15/2009 on Rabies.

Principally, said Suarjaya, the society rules should include good dog ownership practices and strong penalties for owners whose dog bit other people. “Meanwhile for unowned or stray/feral dogs there is no other way, it must be eliminated. Stray/feral dogs should be handled by the local community with support from local Livestock Services,” he said.

“With current conditions, it is the responsibility of everybody, the government, private sector and public, to work together to overcome rabies,” he said. Regarding human rabies vaccine stock, 19,000 doses are available in all districts/cities. Health Services is also planning to add more vaccines to the stock. In 2015 until early October, 15 human fatalities due to rabies have been recorded in Bali.

Meanwhile, Head of Bali Province Livestock and Animal Health Services, I Putu Sumantra, said the most recent rabies case was in Jembrana District where a dog bit 11 people in one day. The dog was confirmed rabies positive after laboratory testing at Denpasar Disease Investigation Center.

“The biting incident occurred between September 29 and October 1. The dog has been euthanized and its brain tested. The result was rabies positive. Livestock Services has vaccinated all owned dogs starting October 6 and culled all stray/feral and free-roaming dogs,” he said. Sumatra added, 19 dogs were killed and brain samples were taken from 9 dogs for further laboratory testing. (FAB)

Source: Berita Satu