"The continuous rabies vaccination and HPR sterilization target dogs, cats, monkeys, and ferrets," said Suharini Eliawati, the head of the Jakarta Food Security, Marine and Agriculture Service (KPKP) Office, on Wednesday.
According to official data as of June 2023, at least 20,423 animals in the Jakarta area have been vaccinated against rabies. They include 13,802 cats, 6,408 dogs, 129 monkeys, and 84 ferrets.
Meanwhile, 2,680 cats have been sterilized. The HPR sterilization has been carried out in collaboration with the Indonesian Veterinary Association (PDHI), veterinary clinics, and an animal lovers community.
The KPKP Office stated that rabies is one of the major zoonotic diseases and has always been a public health concern.
Although Jakarta has been rabies-free since 2004, it remains a high-risk area for rabies transmission due to its borders with regions that are not yet rabies-free and where there is a high movement of animals that carry rabies.
In June 2023, 1,733 cases of animal bites were reported in Jakarta, an increase of 206 cases from 1,527 cases in May. The bites were from cats, dogs, monkeys, and bats.
According to the Jakarta Health Office, there were no positive rabies cases or deaths due to the animal bites.
Reisa Broto Asmoro, a health observer, appealed to everyone to be aware of changes in their pet's behavior patterns to prevent children from getting rabies.
"We have to be careful as infected stray animals are found around the home environment," she said.
One pet behavior that could indicate a rabies infection is aggressive behavior.
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Translator: Siti N, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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