Rabies Case Appears In TTS, Kupang Regency Government Asks Residents To Tie Pet Dogs

Dogs are animals that can be intermediaries for the transmission of the virus that causes rabies disease. (ANTARA/Benny Langg)

KUPANG - The Kupang Regency Government in East Nusa Tenggara Province asked residents to bind all pet dogs to prevent transmission of rabies disease following the emergence of rabies dog bites in the South Central Timor Regency (TTS) area. "One way to prevent the transmission of rabies is to tie up a pet dog so that dogs do not roam," said Head of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health at the Kupang Regency Livestock Service, Yosep Paulus in Kupang, Antara, Tuesday, May 30. The Kupang Regency Government anticipates the transmission of rabies disease following the emergence of a rabies dog bite case in Fenun Village, South Amanatun District, South Central Timor Regency. "The transmission of rabies disease is very fast, so it is necessary to take preventive measures by the community by tying up a pet dog," said Yosep. In addition to ensuring that pet dogs do not roam, he said, residents must vaccinate their dogs so they are not infected and transmit the rabies virus. "We don't have the vaccine for rabies yet, so of course we will ask the NTT Provincial Government for help to get the rabies vaccine in supporting the vaccination of domestic dogs in this area," said Yosep Paulus. Rabies includes zoonosis, an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. Diseases caused by rabies virus infection can be transmitted by bite, courts, or scratch of animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and apes infected with the virus. In order to prevent rabies disease or mad dog disease, routine vaccinations must be carried out on pets who can become intermediaries for the transmission of the rabies virus.

In addition, people who are bitten by rabies-contagious animals are advised to immediately wash their wounds using soap and running water for about 15 minutes and report to the nearest health center.