Anticipating Rabies, Bandung City Government Holds Free Vaccination

Residents queue to access free rabies vaccination services for animals at the Food and Agriculture Security Office in Bandung City, West Java, Sunday (8/10/2023). (ANTARA)

BANDUNG - The Department of Food Security and Agriculture of Bandung City in West Java Province held a free rabies vaccination service to commemorate World Rabies Day.

The rabies vaccination service for animals was held at the Bandung City Food and Agriculture Security Office (DKPP) on Sunday, October 8.

"DKPP has provided more than 400 vaccines," said Head of the Bandung City Food and Agriculture Security Service Gin Ginanjar as quoted by ANTARA.

In addition to providing rabies vaccination services, he said, the service provided animal health checks and sterilization of cats.

"We provide sterilization for cats, which are given free of charge. For today's quota there are 20 animals," he said.

Gin Gin said that the commemoration of World Rabies Day this year includes a campaign to increase public understanding of the importance of rabies vaccination in pets.

"There are also quite a lot of large city floods and animal care, so vigilance must be increased, one of which is by administering rabies vaccines," he said.

He said that the Bandung City area was free from rabies and the government tried to maintain this status with the support of the community.

Bandung City DPRD chairman Tedy Rusmawan also stated the importance of increasing counseling on efforts to prevent rabies disease, especially for pet owners.

Rabies includes zoonosis, an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. Diseases caused by infection with the rabies virus can be transmitted by bite, smell, or scratch of animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and monkeys.

In order to prevent the transmission of rabies disease or mad dog disease, routine vaccinations must be carried out on pets who can transmit the rabies virus. rabies vaccination is also needed by people who are at risk of contracting the rabies virus.