Friday, 19 December, 2008 | 19:38 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Denpasar: The Livestock, Fishery and Maritime Office in Badung regency, Bali, will vaccinate 9.000 dogs in Kuta and South Kuta tomorrow. "It is in line with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommendation," said Badung's Livestock, Fishery, and Maritime Service chief, I Made Badra, yesterday.
As many as 200 veterinarians and hundreds of students from Udayana University will be deployed to do the mass vaccination on dogs which may be infected with rabies. "We are targeting eight villages, setting up 72 posts," Badra said.
So far, Badra said, his department has vaccinated 1.666 dogs or around 18 percent of the targeted local canine population. Meanwhile, the 9.000 dogs to be vaccinated are almost 85 percent from the targeted dog population. "After the mass vaccinations, there will be a three-month period to trace the dogs' antibody," he said.
Meanwhile Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, has been declared an area that is susceptible to the spread of rabies. The warning was conveyed after the local administration held a campaign of catching stray and wild dogs.
"We found the dogs infected with the virus," said Balikpapan's Livestock chief, Budianto, yesterday. However, he did not specify the number of dogs infected with the virus.
To prevent the rabies virus from infecting humans bitten by the dogs, Budi has called on the public, particularly those who have dogs, cats, and monkeys as pets, to be on the alert. "Do not underestimate a dog's bite. If you are bitten, immediately go to a health center to get a vaccine," Budi said.
When animals are infected with rabies, Budi explained, they are normally afraid of light and water, prefer to be in dark places, and they easily attack people, including their master. "So, avoid animals with these characteristics. Kill them if necessary, because they are definitely infected with rabies," he said.
NI LUH ARIE SL | SG WIBISONO
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