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Gov urged to review rabies epidemic
The Bali provincial administration has issued the latest mapping of the rabies endemic in its eight regencies and municipality to take effective action in dealing with the deadly disease, says a local doctor
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he Bali provincial administration has issued the latest mapping of the rabies endemic in its eight regencies and municipality to take effective action in dealing with the deadly disease, says a local doctor.
Rabies has been strongly present in Bali from November 2008 claiming 75 fatalities including a Seririt resident, Buleleng, who died at Singaraja regional hospital last Monday.
"The local authority should clearly map affected areas, which will be different in each regency, and then develop initiatives to deal with the disease," Dr. Ken Wirasandhi, from Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, said.
Wirasandhi said the administration had not yet issued a progress report on the handling of the rabies epidemic since its outbreak two years ago. "Mapping and progress reports are important to enable us to apply accurate prevention and medication programs in every affected area," the doctor said.
In two regencies, Karangasem in the east and Buleleng in North Bali, demands for the anti-rabies vaccine has been increasing with dog bites on the rise. The provision of the anti-rabies vaccines for humans and animals in the two areas are said to be inadequate. Last Monday, Ketut Dharmasaya, a resident of remote village Lokapaksa, died of rabies. The regional hospital was blamed as it lacked the anti-rabies vaccine. Made Pustaka, head of Buleleng Health Office, said Dharmayasa was rabies positive and urged local communities to be on the alert. "Rabies has spread across 40 villages in Buleleng regency."
People are advised to bring their dogs to local health centers for the anti-rabies vaccine. People bitten by dogs are also advised to have a health examination. "They should get the vaccine," Pustaka said.
The regional hospital in Singaraja and other community health centers in neighboring villages, however, have not been supplied the vaccine.
Ni Luh Widiani, a Singaraja resident, said she found it difficult to get the vaccine from the hospital after her maid was bitten by a dog. "By the time we completed the required procedures, the health official there said there was no vaccine available on that day. I had to wait for days."
Kusumayasa, Lokapaksa village chief, said the supposedly free vaccine was available at the Singaraja hospital, priced between Rp 270,000 and Rp 600,000. "This is burdensome for low-income patients."
There are 500 patients of suspected rabies that need vaccines in Buleleng regency.
Dr. Agus Suryadji, deputy director of Tabanan regional regency, said dog bite cases in the regency had been decreasing from 70 to seven cases a day.
"But, the government must take action to determine the most vulnerable areas. It is required to make clear and accurate medical protocols on the handling of the rabies epidemic," he said.
