Prevent Rabies, Agricultural Quarantine Rejects 2 Cats Owned By Residents Entering Batam

Two cats that were denied entry to Batam from Riau by Agricultural Quarantine (ANTARA/HO-Humas Batam Agricultural Quarantine)

Batam Agricultural Quarantine refuses the entry of two cats belonging to Riau residents at Telaga Punggur Domestic Port, Batam City, Riau Islands (Kepri), to prevent the spread of rabies. "There were two cats that were refused to enter Batam after crossing with KMP Lome from Sungai Pakning, Siak Regency, Riau Province," said Batam Agricultural Supervision and Quarantine Coordinator Romauli B Simatupang when contacted in Batam, quoted from Antara, Friday, June 23. The rejection of the entry of the two cats, he said, was in accordance with the Circular Letter of the Governor of the Riau Islands Number 0257.b/kdh.Kepri.524/04.09 concerning Alertness to Rabies Disease which prohibits rabies-infectious animals (dogs, cats, monkeys, and so on) from entering the Riau Islands area. He explained that rabies is currently a Quarantine Animal Disease Pest (HPHK) that is very wary of, given several cases that are currently happening in Indonesian territory. Rabies is a deadly disease that is zoonotic in nature, which is a disease transmitted from animals to humans. This disease is caused by Lyssavirus, which is transmitted by bite, friction, or scratch of rabies-infected animals. "Rabies can be a threat to animal health and public health, especially in Batam City," he said. For this reason, he advised the public to increase awareness so as not to bring Rabies Infectious Animals (HPR) into Batam City to prevent rabies transmission.

"The Batam Agricultural Quarantine continues to be committed to preventing the spread of HPHK and OPTK (Organism for Disturbing Quarantine Plants), as well as enforcing the mandate of Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning quarantine of animals, fish, and plants," he said.