Rabies Melanda Timor Tengah Selatan NTT, Kini Kasus Bite Dog Terjadi Di 11 Kecamatan

Illustration of rabies injections in pets. (Between)

NTT - Kupang Class I Agricultural Quarantine Center (BKP) recorded cases of dog bites that have the opportunity to cause rabies transmission to occur in 11 of the 32 sub-districts in South Central Timor Regency (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

"Based on the report as of June 1, 2023 yesterday, the number of sub-districts that have reports of dog bites has reached 11 sub-districts, and this is a very fast movement," said Head of BBKP Class I Kupang Yulius Umbu H in Kupang, NTT, Friday, June 2, quoted by Antara.

"During my visit to TTS, only seven sub-districts were infected, currently there are 11 sub-districts," he continued.

Yulius said that 107 people had been bitten by dogs in the South Central Timor Regency (TTS).

According to him, the examination had been carried out on 107 people who were bitten by a dog and based on the results of the examination there were 13 people who experienced rabies-like symptoms.

Yulius said that vaccination had been carried out to prevent the transmission of rabies. Already 22 people have received the first dose of anti-rabies vaccination.

In addition, according to Yulius, checks were carried out on dogs that bite people to find out if they are infected with the rabies virus.

He stated the need for efforts to ground and limit the movement of dogs and selectively eliminate them in order to reduce the risk of rabies transmission.

"The movement of dogs is very massive and the public does not yet understand the dangers of rabies. It needs socialization, one of which is in churches and other media," he said.

In addition, he proposed closing the entrance to Timor Island from rabies-contagious animal traffic (HPR).

"We instruct them not to spread to other islands and neighboring countries while waiting for statements of the outbreak and the determination of the rabies quarantine area from the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.

An increase in rabies prevention and control efforts follows the death of a resident after being bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies in TTS Regency.

Rabies includes zoonosis, an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. Diseases caused by infection with the rabies virus can be transmitted through bite, smell, 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.

Anti-rabies vaccination is also needed for people who are at risk of contracting the rabies virus. In this case, vaccination can be given before or after exposure to the 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.