Mukomuko Health Office Handles 54 Cases Of Rabies Infectious Animals

JAKARTA - The Health Office (Dinkes) of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu, handled 54 cases of rabies-infectious animal bites from January to August 2023. "As many as 54 patients handled by the agency officers are spread across a number of areas," said Head of the Mukomuko District Health Office Bustam Bustomo in Mukomuko, Sunday, quoting Antara. He said, of the 54 patients treated, one of them tested positive for rabies after the animal died and based on the results of laboratory examinations of the animal.

He said, officers from the Mukomuko Regency Agriculture Service who carried out examinations of dead animals after biting residents as well as conducting laboratory examinations of dead animals. He explained, one patient who was positive for rabies, namely a four-year-old child who was bitten by a dog. The nearest health center has handled it and provided an anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) and then the child's wound was cleaned and given an anti-rabies serum (SAR). He stated, giving VARs in addition to rabies positive patients, including to other patients to prevent them from contracting rabies. "Dinas ensures that anti-rabies vaccine stocks are sufficient for six months or until December 2023," he said. Then, his agency has formed Rabies Center in six community health centers (puskesmas) to tackle cases of rabies-infectious animal bites in this area quickly and precisely. "We formed Rabies Centers in six health centers scattered in a number of areas of this area to bring health services closer to the community," he said. The six health centers are located in Ipuh Districts, Pondok Suguh, Pilun, Penerak, Lubuk Pinang, and Mukomuko City. The agency formed Rabies Center, he said, in addition to tackling cases of rabies-infected animals while suppressing this case. Furthermore, he said, Rabies Center also carried out retrieval, storage, and distribution of anti-rabies vaccines (VAR) obtained from the Health Service.