Preventing Deaths Due To Rabies, Health Office Distributes Serum For Animals At 11 Mataram Health Centers

A dog was lying down as a result of being bitten by a rabies dog in TTS Regency, NTT in May 2023. (Between Class I Quarantine Station Kupang)

NTB - Mataram City Health Office anticipates the increase in rabies cases by preparing anti-rabies serum at 11 health centers and hospitals in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Mataram City Health Office, Usman Hadi, in response to the case of a girl who died of rabies after being bitten by an animal a month earlier. The boy died at Buleleng Hospital, Bali on June 11, 2023.

"We have prepared an anti-rabies warning at health centers and hospitals. For each number, I don't know enough," he said in Mataram, NTB, Wednesday, June 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, the most important thing in handling rabies cases is how to prevent and take action from the Agriculture Service as the leading sector that facilitates this field.

"We hope that the Agricultural Service can take preventive measures against rabies cases in this area, especially in Mataram City," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Livestock Division of the Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) Dijan Riyatmoko said that every year there are always cases of residents who are bitten by dogs in Mataram City.

"But, after inspection and observation, all the results were negative for rabies," he said.

For 2023, there has been one case of dog bites and negative observations have been made. Likewise in 2022, there were three cases of bite which were also negative for rabies.

"Alhamdulillah, for Mataram City, especially and Lombok Island in general, it is still safe, because there have been no rabies cases," he said.

However, his party is actively taking efforts to anticipate the rabies virus in carrying out vaccination, elimination, and sterilization programs against HPR, especially dogs.

For 2023, Distan will carry out a dog vaccination activity with a target of 1,500 heads. However, if there is an additional vaccine, the number of targets can also increase.

In addition, population control is also carried out through the elimination and sterilization program.

"For this year's sterilization, we are targeting around 100 dogs as an effort to control their population. The population of dogs in Mataram currently reaches more than 5,000," he said.

Meanwhile, the elimination program or reduction of the dog population by being poisoned has decreased since the last two years, but for this elimination, the target is chosen according to public demand or high-risk targets.

"Such as in public facilities, in markets, fields, places of worship, educational environments, and others that are considered disturbing," he said.

In addition, he added, efforts to anticipate the rabies virus were carried out under the supervision of HPR, namely dogs, cats, and monkeys at the entrance, in collaboration with the Quarantine Center.

"If HPR comes in, it must have a permit from the local Agriculture Service. If not, HPR cannot enter Mataram City," he said.