Curbing the Spread of Rabies

Reports of 750 locals bitten by rabid dogs and contracting rabies in Sikka regency this year are highly alarming. Last year, Sikka regency reported 945 cases of locals bitten by rabid dogs. Indonesia is among 72 rabies-endemic countries.

KOMPAS/SAMUEL OKTORA

Animal health officials of the Sikka Agriculture Agency (right) prepare to inject a puppy with a rabies vaccine on Wednesday (5/9/2018) in Watugong village, East Alok district, Sikka regency on Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. A rabies emergency has been declared in Sikka, as 750 people were bitten by dogs in January-July, one of who died of rabies on Sept. 1.

Reports of 750 locals bitten by rabid dogs and contracting rabies in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara, between January and July this year, are highly alarming.

Last year, Sikka regency reported 945 cases of locals bitten by rabid dogs. A report from the Health Ministry’s data and information center shows that only nine out of Indonesia’s 33 provinces are rabies-free. Indonesia is also among 72 rabies-endemic countries.

Of the nine provinces, five do not have any history of rabies, namely Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, West Papua and Papua. The other four provinces – Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta and East Java – later became rabies-free after eradication efforts.

Data from the Health Ministry’s Disease Prevention and Control Directorate General show that the number of rabies infection cases in 2013 (69,136 cases) was lower than in 2012 (84,750 cases). However, the number of cases surged from 2014 to 2015, with 80,403 recorded cases in 2015. In 2016, the number of cases dwindled again to 64,774. This means that rabies management in Indonesia has remained ineffective and inconsistent.

This is despite rabies being an acute and fatal disease as it attacks the central nervous system. The rabies virus spreads to humans through bites of infected animals, including dogs, cats, monkeys and bats. What is highly alarming is that 558 people died from rabies between 2012 and 2016, or 112 per year on average.

Despite the lack of cure, rabies can be prevented through vaccination, both on animals and humans. The moment a person is bitten by an animal believed to be infected, the person must be injected with the anti-rabies vaccine.

Vaccinations must also be for animals that are deemed to be potential carriers. The problem is that rabies vaccines are administered through shots. It is easy to give the vaccine to pets – not so much to wild animals. Consequently, rabies vaccination coverage is low and it is difficult to curb the spread of rabies among wild cats and dogs.

An oral vaccine for rabies is available. Mixed with bait, the vaccine has been proven to reduce the spread of rabies among the wild animal population in the US and the fox population in Europe. The oral vaccine has also been tested on wild dogs in Mexico, Tunisia and South Africa. There is no harm in implementing the vaccine in Indonesia.

In his article “The Spread of Rabies – An Indication of What?” (Kompas, 24/2/2009), Soeharsono reminded of the importance of strengthening veterinary authority in various provinces to tackle animal health. Besides, monitoring and quarantine systems should be made stricter so that infected animals do not make their way into rabies-free regions.

The huge number of rabies cases in Sikka regency reflects the ineffective eradication of rabies. However, the success of the four provinces in eradicating rabies must serve as an example to end the spread of rabies in all of Indonesia.