Letters: Bali can easily return to rabies-free

Fri, 04/24/2009 12:54 PM  |  Reader's Forum

This is in response to the article, "Worldwide objection to dog extermination program" (The Jakarta Post, April 18). Putri Jayaningsih, head of the Bali Veterinarian Office, seems to have missed the point of why international organizations are against Bali's dog culling program.

First, strychnine results in an agonizing death and is not accepted internationally as a humane method for euthanasia. Second, most of the food baited with strychnine will be eaten by dogs that have limited street experience (such as vaccinated, sterilized pet dogs) while true feral dogs will often learn to avoid these types of hazards. And last, culling programs result in population disruptions, which increases the likelihood of disease spread because dogs will migrate into areas that are no longer being occupied by the resident dogs.

As is repeated in numerous reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that 70 percent of the dog population must be vaccinated in order to control a rabies epidemic and all international NGOs are supportive of an effective rabies vaccination program for Bali. Unfortunately, in the first round of the rabies vaccination program run by the government only reached 39 percent of the dog population in the infected area; this is well below the WHO target.

The low vaccination rate is likely a result of poor community awareness about free government vaccination days, which lead to low community attendance. In addition to, the two-month (Feb. and March) cessation of the vaccination program which resulted in a lost opportunity to vaccinate thousands of dogs.

It is true effective vaccination strategies require resources and commitment; but they also reap benefits in the long term. Culling dogs is a short-term measure as it is neither effective in controlling rabies nor in controlling the dog population. If the government is serious in reducing the dog population then it should be supporting local NGOs already running animal birth control programs.

Bali is no different to other cities around the world that have rabies and free-roaming dog populations, but Bali does have the advantage of being a small island. Thus, with the implementation of an effective vaccination program and strict control over animal importation and quarantine, Bali can very easily return to rabies-free.

Dani Stokeld
Denpasar

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