Toddler In Pasaman Dies Of Bitten Dog Allegedly Rabies

Animal health workers in West Pasaman administer Anti Rabies Vaccine (VAR) injections to people's pets in the area due to the rampant bite of Rabies Pets (GHPR), Thursday. Between/Altas Maulana.

PASAMAN - A baby under five years old (toddlers) in West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) died from a bite of an animal suspected of being infected with rabies.

Head of Livestock and Animal Health Division of the West Pasaman Plantation and Livestock Service, Ikhsan Radika, said the toddler who died was suspected of being due to the rabies virus named Gabby Clarisa Putri, aged 3.5, a resident of Nagari Aia Gadang, Pasaman District.

"Baliita Gabby was bitten by a stray dog on Wednesday (11/2) when she returned from her grandmother's house," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

Meanwhile, animal health worker Purnama explained that the victim was bitten by a stray dog when the victim left the house.

"According to family information, the victim walked home from his grandmother, as soon as he arrived at the house, the victim was suddenly attacked by a stray dog and bit the victim," he said.

Another health worker, Kartika, said that at that time the victim was bitten by a dog on the right side of the face and the dog immediately ran away and was not found. The victim was immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

"The victim received several stitches on the face and anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) at the hospital. During treatment at the hospital the victim had a fever and seizures. The victim had been injected with VAR three times," he said.

After the incident, the victim's family reported to the animal health center (Puskeswan) on February 21, 2023. A few weeks later or March 21, 2023, his party received news that the victim of GHPR had died.

Until now, the exact cause of the victim's death is not known, whether it is due to contracting the rabies virus or other causes.

"This case is still a question mark whether the victim of GHPR died from rabies or not. Because the victim also has a history of congenital seizures since childhood and before he died the victim had a seizure," he said.

In addition to a toddler who died, the rabies case or Pet Bites Rabies (GHPR) in the area from January to June 2023, reached 26 cases.

Responding to the rabies case, his party prepared a number of anticipatory steps by injecting rabies vaccinations against pets in each sub-district.

"From Wednesday (12/7), we have intensified the injection of VAR in pets to anticipate the widespread GHPR case," he said.

His party deployed six animal health workers for vaccination in Pasaman District. Then, in Nagari Aia Gadang there are 200 doses for 200 pets such as dogs and cats.

Furthermore, in Nagari Lingkuang, Aua as many as 100 doses for 100 pets and Nagari Aura Kuniang as many as 180 doses.

The dose of vaccine assisted by the West Sumatra Animal Husbandry and Health Service is 500 doses and there are still 20 doses left. "The remaining 20 doses will be realized today in Nagari Pinaga, Pasaman sub-district," he said.

He appealed to people who have dogs, cats and monkeys to carry out routine vaccinations for their pets.