So far this year, 10 people were bitten by dogs and cats positively infected with the disease, Head of the Bengkulu Farm and Animal Husbandry Office Arif Gunadi said here Friday.
The first three cases were found in July in the sub-districts of Sungai Serut and six cases were recorded in August in different areas and and one and most recent case was earlier this month.
A horse was also known to have been attacked by a mad dog in the sub-district of Selebar.
"The people need to be more watchful that cats have also been found to carry the disease. It was never known in the city before that cats were infected by rabies," Arif said.
The agriculture and animal husbandry office plan to vaccinate 6,850 domestic animals this year to prevent the spread of the fatal disease.
The city authorities have eliminated around 370 dogs, which have no known owners from the city streets. There were around 400 such dogs to be eliminated in the city.
Altogether there are around 9,375 animals including dogs, cats and monkeys potential to spread the virus.
(H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
