Hence, the vaccination should not only be given to dogs, which become pets, but also to stray dogs, including puppies.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Health Ministry assessed that it is necessary to conduct massive rabies vaccination after two districts were declared to have an extraordinary outbreak (KLB) of the disease.

“Since some areas have experienced an extraordinary outbreak, the local government and all related agencies must massively check the condition of the animals living in the area, especially dogs, which have the potential to suffer from rabies, and give them vaccination,” the ministry's spokesperson, Mohammad Syahril,
noted.

At a virtual press conference on Friday, he pressed for the involvement of various animal lover communities, especially dog lovers, both at the national and regional levels, in this effort.

KLB has been recorded in Sikka District and South Timor Tengah District in East Nusa Tenggara Province.

"Currently, the most important attempt is to handle carriers of rabies, such as dogs, cats, and monkeys,” the ministry’s spokesperson stated.

The coverage of rabies vaccination on the dog and cat population in Indonesia should reach at least 70 percent, though currently, it is only 40 percent, he said.

“Dogs and cats should be taken care of as pets. Hence, do not let any carriers of rabies roam freely on the streets (without being vaccinated),” Syahril remarked.

He stated that according to epidemiology, KLB cases can still be handled at the local level by the government in collaboration with the community to prevent further transmission of the disease.

On the same occasion, Director of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control at the Health Ministry Imran Pambudi emphasized that one of the keys of successful vaccination is the establishment of herd immunity, so all dogs must be vaccinated.

"Hence, the vaccination should not only be given to dogs, which become pets, but also to stray dogs, including puppies," he remarked.

The director noted that managing the dog population in an area is also important.

"We must carry out population control. We cannot let dogs roam freely in an area, especially if they have no owners," he added.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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