Mukomuko Receives Additional Anti-Rabies Vaccine For 17 Patients

Mukomuko District Health Office (Via ANTARA)

MUKOMUKO - The Health Office of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, received additional assistance of 17 anti-rabies vaccines (VAR) from the provincial government for 17 patients bitten by rabies-transmitting animals.

"Recently, we took 17 VARs in the province. These VARs are for 17 patients who were bitten by rabies-transmitting animals," said the Rabies Program Manager of the Mukomuko District Health Office, Bara Lendra in his statement at Mukomuko, Antara, Tuesday, May 3.

The government of Mukomuko Regency previously received 12 VAR assistance from the central government for 12 patients who were bitten by a rabies-transmitting animal. This area previously received assistance as much as 12 VAR, because the stock of VAR in this area since mid-February 2022 is running low, only four vaccines remain.

He said that currently the VAR stock for residents who were bitten by rabies-transmitting animals was 29 vaccines, and this much VAR stock was sufficient for the next few months.

"The current VAR stock can last for the next three months depending on whether or not there are many cases of bites from rabies-transmitting animals in this area," he said.

This year the Mukomuko Health Office received an allocation of funds for the purchase of 25 VARs, but until now the VAR procurement has not been implemented.

"Because the stock of anti-rabies vaccine in this area is running low, the vaccines available at the office are used selectively or only for victims of animal bites that transmit rabies that lead to rabies," he said.

Meanwhile, as many as 17 residents in this area became victims of bites from rabid animals, namely cats, monkeys, and dogs during January to March 2022.

"A total of 17 people who were bitten by the rabies-transmitting animal were scattered in a number of areas in this area," he said.

Two of the 17 residents who were bitten by dogs and cats transmitting rabies in January 2022, seven residents in February 2022, consisting of three dogs bitten, three cats bitten, and one monkey bitten.

A total of eight residents who were bitten by rabid animals during March 2022 consisted of seven cases of dog bites and one case of cat bite.