Rabies Vaccine in Simalungun is Minimum

SIMALUNGUN (SINDO) – Simalungun district needs approximately 6,000 additional doses of rabies vaccines for pets such as dogs and monkeys in that area.
Head of the District Livestock and Fisheries Office of Simalungun, Sahat Hutauruk, through the Head of the Animal Health Sub-office, Mundofar, said that the current dog population in that area is 13,194 dogs, but the amount of rabies vaccine available for this year is only 4,300 doses. “Ideally, we need about 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine,” Mundofar explained recently in Simalungun.

According to Mundofar, rabies vaccination on pet animals such as dogs and monkey is imperative for owners. This should be done routinely to prevent rabies infection on humans bit by their pet. Mundofar added that to overcome the minimum stock of rabies vaccine in the District Livestock and Fisheries Office of Simalungun, he will encourage the public to conduct routine rabies vaccination on their pet dogs and monkeys.
Meanwhile, the Head of Disease Prevention and Eradication and Environmental Health Sub-Office of the District Health Office of Simalungun, dr UT Hutagalung, said that until October 2007, dog bite cases in that area were as much as 270 cases. From those cases, there was only one case that was positive for rabies.
“Rabies vaccination for pets is very important to prevent rabies on human, besides immediate medical attention after bitten by a dog or any other pet such as monkeys and cats,” Hutagalung explained. A Simalungun Local House of Representatives member, Chairul Anwar, proposed that for the coming 2008 budget, the local government should allocate adequate budget for provision of rabies vaccines. “The district government of Simalungun should allocate an adequate budget for rabies vaccines so to fulfill the needs of the Health Office,” said Chairul. (ricky fernando)