26 Ambonese Residents Get Bitten By Rabies Dogs

Ambon City Health Office Head, Wendy Pelupessy (ANTARA/Penina F Mayaut)

JAKARTA - Head of the Ambon City Health Office, Wendy Pelupessy, explained that there were 26 cases of victims of dog bites carrying rabies.

"To date, 26 rabid dog bite victims have received antitetanus vaccination and anti-rabies vaccine from the puskesmas," said Wendy Pelupessy in Ambon, Maluku, Tuesday, August 23, quoted from Antara.

He said that the vaccine had been administered since Monday (22/8) to 15 victims and continued Tuesday to 11 victims of rabid dog bites.

The Health Office appealed to residents who had dog bites to immediately report to the nearest health center for immediate treatment.

"Do not carelessly clean the bite wound, immediately take the victim to the nearest health center or hospital for treatment," he said.

He appealed to the public to be able to anticipate the transmission of rabies, by paying attention to the behavior of pet dogs.

"It's better if the pet dog is in a cage, don't let it roam. If there is a change in the dog's behavior, such as becoming more aggressive, or one that is usually active but then becomes quiet and looks sick, then that needs to be watched out for," he said.

The acting Mayor of Ambon, Bodewin Wattimena, guaranteed that the City Government through the Health Office would take medical steps by administering vaccines to victims of rabid dog bites.

"I ask the Health Office to give rabies vaccines to victims, we can help to that extent, so anyone who is bitten must report it immediately, but for handling rabid dogs that roam around, we coordinate with the police to help shoot them, so they don't take more victims," he said.