The number of people bitten by rabid dogs on Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has increased, just as the island is running out of anti-rabies vaccine and serum.

The most recent victim was three-year-old Fandi Mere of Wolowaru district, Ende regency, who reportedly died Wednesday after being bitten by a rabid dog the week before.

Some witnesses said the child had not been treated with vaccine or serum as the local Puskesmas (community health center) had run out of stock.

The head of the animal health division at East Nusa Tenggara Husbandry Agency, Maria Geong, said Friday her office had distributed 140,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines and serums to regencies across Flores since May.

"If the vaccine has been used up, then that means the dog population has increased, reducing the stock of vaccine," she said.

"My office distributed the vaccine based on each regency's demand. We have yet to receive reports of serum or vaccine shortages."

The 10 regencies in Flores are West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende, Sikka, Alor, Lembata and East Flores.

Maria said that during the past 10 years, her office had records of 162 people in the island having died after being bitten by rabid dogs, not 135 people as reported previously.

"There have been six fatalities this year so far," she said.

Last week it was reported that Nikolaus Nggong, 60, and his grandson, Waldi Yoram, 10, died after being bitten by rabid dogs.

The two, both residents of Satar Nawang village, Sambi Rampas district, East Manggarai regency, did not receive any injections when being treated at a local health center, said East Manggarai Health Agency acting head, Philipus Mantur.

"Waldi died at the Ruteng General Hospital after the rabies virus had attacked his brain while Nikolaus passed away at his residence," he said.

Two other people were saved after receiving an anti-rabies vaccine injection.

Previously, Eston Lalu Djone, 8, a student of SD Katolik Ende III elementary school, also died after being bitten by a rabid dog.

It is estimated that there are about 30,000 dog on Flores.

"The administration had tried the mass elimination of dogs in Flores. The effort, however, failed to prevent the rabies virus from spreading," Maria said.

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