Rabies still haunts Flores

The Jakarta Post Wed, July 11 2012


Rabies continues to threaten Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), as there have been thousands of reports of dog bites in the region over the last 15 years.

Since 1997, 205 people have died from rabies in Flores, according to Sikka health agency.

“Each and every day, there are more than 20 people who make reports that they are bitten by rabies-infected dogs,” Regina Ester, the head of the infectious disease division at the Sikka health agency said on Tuesday.

Dogs infected with rabies have also been found in downtown Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency and the largest city on Flores island.

“Previously, such dogs were only found in suburban areas, but now it has spread to the heart of the city,” Regina added.

According to a report from the agency, two people died from rabies in the first six months of 2012, while there were 1,032 cases of dogs biting people in the same period.

There were 2,866 cases of dog bites in Flores in 2011.

A proposal to euthanize stray dogs to stop the spread of the virus was rejected by local residents who called the initiative inhumane. There are about 50,000 dogs in Flores.

“Residents who have dogs should keep their pets in kennels to prevent the spread of the disease. This is much cheaper than destroying the infected dogs,” Asep Purnama, the rabies chief at TC Hillers Maumere Hospital said.