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Bali Out of Antirabies Vaccine Stock
Denpasar - Rabies in Bali has claimed more lives. Since January 2009 until Thursday (24/9) 13 people had died from rabid dog bites. The victims were from 4 of 9 districts/municipalities in Bali; the districts/municipalities were Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan.
Therefore the Health Office of Bali Province had stated rabies as serious and uncontrollable because it had spread to high risk areas. Unfortunately, the statement was not followed by sufficient stock of antirabies vaccines. Even, all hospitals in Bali, including Sanglah General Hospital which is a reference hospital, have run out of antirabies vaccines.
Stock of 150 vaccines
Head of the Rabies Control Team of Sanglah Genral Hospital, Doctor Ken Wirasandhi, confirmed the hospital has run out of stock. From the beginning of this year, there are at least 150 doses of antirabies vaccine prepared every day at the hospital.
Ken said the hospital has requested more vaccines from the central office before Ied Fitr holidays. “But, until today, we have not received the vaccines and they said there are problems in the delivery because of transportation issues due to the holiday’s massive leave movement,” said Ken. He added that vaccines stocks were depleted because more and more patients come for treatment, moreover since rabies had spread to four other areas unsuspectedly.
Therefore they are now concerned because if the absence of antirabies vaccines is not immediately resolved, conditions could go worse. The reason is because vaccines are not only needed by new rabid dog bite patients. “Previous patients also need to be revaccinated up to 3 times,” he said.
In Tabanan
A similar condition is concerning Ketut Sumiarta, Head of the Health Office in Tabanan district. He explained the last stock of antirabies vaccines at the Health Office, 100 doses, has been sent to Tabanan General Hospital on Thursday (24/9). He added that the office is currently waiting for more vaccines from Jakarta (an addition of 250 doses).
Since rabies outbreak in Tabanan this last month, the Health Office of Tabanan has used 2,025 doses of antirabies vaccines to treat rabid dog bite patients.
In total, there have been 14,700 cases of dog bite in Bali and from that figure 5,800 doses of antirabies vaccine have been used. Meanwhile, the provincial government of Bali had prepared 5 billion rupiahs to prevent further spread of rabies. (AYS)
Source : Kompas