T

he public and local authorities in North Sulawesi have been urged to be vigilant over the spread of rabies after the recent reported deaths from the disease of nine people.

The North Sulawesi Health Agency said about 994 people were reported to have been bitten by cats, dogs or monkeys infected by rabies as of the end of May.

“Nine cases have resulted in death,” agency health control head Hendrik Tairas said recently.

Of the 994 cases involving people bitten by rabid animals, the largest number occurred in Minahasa regency with 243 cases, followed by South Minahasa regency with 195 and North Minahasa with 114, Hendrik
revealed.

Minahasa Health Agency head Yuliana Kaunang confirmed that the number of people in the regency bitten by the animals reached 243, including one fatality.

“The victim died because he failed to attend a clinic or hospital to obtain medical treatment,” Yuliana said on Tuesday.

He added that the number remained lower than that in 2015, when the number of people bitten by dogs reached 931. Of that number, 494 were vaccinated because the dogs that bit them were found to be rabid.

“Last year, six people died of rabies,” Yuliana said, adding that the high rate might have been due to the numerous dog population in Minahasa.

“The stock of vaccines for patients suffering from dog bites is sufficient, as it is paid for from the provincial and state budgets. As long as patients report to a clinic or hospital, they are certain to receive treatment,” she added.

Minahasa has been ranked as the most critical area in the spread of rabies in North Sulawesi, and is likely to receive special attention from the government.

Denizens of the regency have also been asked to pay attention to the health of their pets, especially dogs and cats, which are susceptible to rabies.

In addition, Hendrik said that when a person is bitten by a rabies-infected animal, he or she needs to immediately wash the wounds with a moderate stream of running water, then go to the nearest health clinic or hospital.

He added the dog that had bitten the person should be monitored for a few days. “Maintain the dog’s health, to prevent death. Dogs that go missing or break loose are considered to be positive for rabies and this must be anticipated,” he said.

Meanwhile, North Sulawesi Health Agency outbreak and disaster division head Arthur Tooy said the agency would continue to maintain antirabies vaccines to ensure the supply is sufficient when called upon.

“In a number of community health centers that have rabies centers, rabies vaccines are provided free of charge,” he said, cautioning that not all health centers in North Sulawesi had rabies centers.

The rabies virus, he went on, lived in dog saliva.

“Symptoms of rabies will arise between two weeks and two years from the time the saliva enters the human body through bites or contact with wounds on the human body,” Arthur explained.

Typical symptoms of rabies, he said, included fever, pain around bite wounds, fear of water and breezes and a sudden preference for darkness.