Semarang Mayor Ensures Illegal Cats Arrested Are Not Rabies

Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu. (ANTARA/Zuhdiar Laiis)

SemarANG - Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu ensured that a number of stray cats arrested by residents and the Fire Department did not care about rabies. Therefore, people don't have to worry.

"As soon as there was a report, we immediately communicated with the Distan (Agricultural Service). They had taken the cat and it turned out that rabies was not found," said Ita, Hevearita's nickname in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 31.

On Saturday (29/7), a resident of Sampangan Semarang was shocked by the presence of a stray cat that flowed so that it was suspected that it was rabies, and contacted the Fire Department to help evacuate the cat.

According to him, the Semarang City Palace has been asked to conduct a thorough examination of the presence of wild animals, especially cats, which are feared by the residents of Sampangan.

Ita also appealed to people whose pets, especially cats and dogs, if they experience symptoms different from their daily lives, to coordinate with the Semarang City Palace.

"It can be examined because we have animal polyclinics (animal health centers) in Gayamsari and Mijen," said the first woman to become the Mayor of Semarang.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Semarang City Palace, Hernowo Budi Luhur, asked the public not to worry about the stray cats arrested in Sampangan because they are not rabies.

As soon as there was a report, he said, the Semarang City Distant immediately dispatched a team to conduct an examination of a number of stray cats and showed no rabies symptoms.

He explained that rabies symptoms include animals fear of light or water, tend to be aggressive, and hypersalivation, namely excessive saliva from the animal's mouth.

However, Hernowo said that excessive saliva does not always show the animal is exposed to rabies, because it could be due to food poisoning, and so on.

According to him, Central Java, including Semarang, is an area that is still free of rabies, and the events that have emerged in the last few days have actually been triggered by public fear because of the large number of wild animals.

"Don't panic. The case last (29/7) night at Gajahmungkur was safe. It's okay. He (the cat) was not afraid of light, was not afraid of water. He didn't show any rabies symptoms," he said.