Rabies in Nusa Tenggara Timur

In early November 2008, two children, Fandi Mere (3) and Eston Lalu Jone (9), had died due to rabid dog bites in Ende, Flores Island, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). According to data from the Health Office of Ende district, from January to November 2008, there had been 431 suspected rabid dog bites with two fatalities. In the same month, in Sikka district, there was also another victim, Ignatius Molo (10). Data from the Health Office of NTT reveals that there were 7500 cases of suspected rabid dog bites from 2004 to 2007. Since 1997, rabies had claimed the lives of at least 200 people.

It could be said that Flores-Lembata area, starting from West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende, Sikka, until Flores Timur districts are rabies endemic areas. The question is, what is causing rabies to be still unsolved?
Vice Bupati of West Manggarai, Agustinus CH Dula, said that the district government of West Manggarai is seriously concerned about rabies. Each year there is fund allocated in the regional budget to vaccinate dogs. But, there are challenges in the implementation. Because of the land’s topography, some areas are difficult to reach, particularly those at mountain peaks and remote areas.
Agustinus added that besides vaccination, the district government had also conducted dog eliminations in a 10 kilometer radius from the case site. This program is often rejected by the local people, saying that they need the dogs to watch over their land and crop.
In Flores-Lembata, the dog population is about 240,000 dogs. Routine vaccination will give the dogs immunity against rabies.
Chief of the Animal Medicine Section in the Agriculture Office of Ende district, Regina AM, admitted that the rabies program in Ende is still not optimum. Ende’s Parliament only approved 100 million rupiahs for dog vaccination in 2008. The dog population in Ende is approximately 40,000 dogs. The vaccination cost per dog is 4000 rupiahs. With just 100 million rupiahs, the budget is only enough to vaccinate 25,000 dogs.
Another challenge is in the man power of Ende’s livestock service. Each subdistrict should have one officer, but the current situation is 13 people for 20 subdistricts.
According to Regina, rabies mitigation in Ende is covered by the Ende Bupati Decree Year 1999 which regulates the ownership of dogs and their duty to vaccinate the dogs.
Source: Kompas (edited)