Rabies : Further Spreading in Bali

DENPASAR, KOMPAS – Rabies in Bali, which was previously found in dogs in Kuta Selatan (South Kuta) Subdistrict in Badung District, has now spread to the north, to Kuta Utara (North Kuta) Subdistrict and Denpasar city. Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, had instructed the restraint (caging) of all rabies host animals, such as dogs, cats and pet monkeys. “This relates to the responsibility of owners, if their pets bite people. Moreover if a rabies case would occur,” said Pastika during a mass anti-rabies vaccination program in Sanur administrative village in Denpasar on Saturday (10/1).

Anti-rabies vaccination was initiated simultaneously in 83 banjars in eight villages in Denpasar, with a total of 20,000 doses of vaccine for an estimated dog population of 17,000 in Denpasar.
Previously, vaccination was only conducted in infected areas, while vaccination in high-risk areas, particularly Denpasar city and other subdistricts in Bandung, were not conducted simultaneously with vaccination in infected areas.
Head of Bali Livestock Services Office, Ida Bagus Ketut Alit, said that vaccination in Denpasar is a direct response to positive rabies cases found in wild dogs in Sesetan, Denpasar and Ungasan and Kedongan villages in South Kuta.
Pastika reminded that spread of rabies in Bandung and Denpasar must be handled with caution by all citizens because these areas are the heart of Bali. Therefore, trafficking of rabies host animals will also be stopped. “Close all entry ports such as harbors and airports,” said Pastika. (BEN)
Source : Kompas [edited]