BANDUNG CITY, WWW.PASJABAR.COM – West Java launched the West Java Kick Out Rabies movement simultaneously in 12 districts/cities to prevent the transmission of the ‘mad dog’ disease to humans.
The movement began by preparing 55,000 Rabies vaccines to be distributed to 27 districts/cities. People who have pets such as cats, dogs, monkeys, ferrets, and other pets that have the potential for Rabies can get the vaccine for free.
West Java Kick Out Rabies is centered in the city of Bandung and carried out in 11 other areas.
Namely Tasikmalaya City, Bogor City, Depok City, Cirebon City, Bogor Regency, Purwakarta Regency, Cirebon Regency, Subang Regency, Bandung Regency, Garut Regency, and Pangandaran Regency.
West Java Kick Out Rabies was launched to coincide with World Rabies Day which is commemorated every 28 September. The theme raised in West Java is in accordance with the global theme, namely ‘One Health Zero Death’.
People Should Be Aware Of Animal Health
Deputy Governor of West Java Uu Ruzhanul Ulum hopes that public awareness of animal health, especially pets, can be increased. For this the government and society can join hands.
“If the animal (pet) is sick, it will harm not only the owner but also the surrounding environment,” said Uu Ruzhanul at Cihampelas Walk, Jalan Cihampelas, Bandung City, Wednesday (28/9/2022).
According to UU, Rabies has long been the focus of the government to eradicate. Rabies vaccine can be obtained free of charge, and drugs for humans who are bitten by Rabies animals are readily available at puskesmas – puskesmas.
“Medicine for those who are infected or bitten by Rabies animals in every puskesmas is ready, and it has been free of charge,” he explained.
Pak Uu, as Uu Ruzhanul Ulum is familiar with, asked the regents/mayors, especially in areas where there were cases of Rabies, to have the same commitment to the success of the West Java Kick Out Rabies in 2022.
“Especially the regents/mayors in urban areas such as Greater Bandung, so that today’s activities are heard, understood, and followed by the community,” he said.
Nine Rabies Free Areas
West Java was declared a Rabies-free area in 2004 and was listed in the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture signed on October 6, 2004.
However, the Rabies-free status was revoked in 2005 after reports of another Rabies case occurring, and until now West Java is still struggling to be free of rabies.
The last Rabies case was reported in 2020, namely in Bandung Regency one case and two cases in West Bandung Regency. As for 2021, there will be 313 cases of Rabies Contagious Animal bites (HPR) in 138 sub-districts, and 233 sub-districts/villages in 23 districts/cities.
The number of bite sufferers was recorded at 313 people, of which 34 percent were children, and 66 percent were adults. Of the 118 pets that bit humans, 81 percent had not received the Rabies vaccination.
“This indicates that the Rabies vaccination coverage, especially for pet dogs, is not yet optimal. So today we hold a free Rabies vaccination to the public,” said the Secretary of the West Java Food and Livestock Security Service (DKPP), drh. Indraantari.
Rabies is One of the Disease Categories in West Java
Based on the epidemiology of the disease, West Java is divided into three categories of regions with Rabies status. Seven areas with the category of being infected with Rabies include Sukabumi Regency, Cianjur Regency, Bandung Regency, West Bandung, Garut, Tasikmalaya, and Sukabumi City.
Eleven areas are threatened with Rabies category.
They are Bogor, Subang, Majalengka, Kuningan, Sumedang, Ciamis, Pangandaran, Bandung, Cimahi, Tasikmalaya, and Banjar regencies.
The nine Rabies-free areas are Bekasi, Purwakarta, Karawang, Cirebon and Indramayu regencies, as well as the cities of Bogor, Depok, Cirebon and Bekasi.
The animal that transmits Rabies is common.
Namely cats, dogs, monkeys, ferrets and others, as well as animals whose maintenance system is still there that are wild.
“To control Rabies in 2022, the West Java DKPP will allocate 55,000 doses of Rabies vaccine, sourced from the APBD and APBN which we distribute to 27 districts/cities,” said Indriantari.
West Java Kick Out Rabies, which is centered in Ciwalk Bandung itself, apart from socialization and education, also includes free Rabies vaccinations for pets. Free vaccinations are carried out on dogs, cats, ferrets, monkeys and hunting dogs.
In addition to free vaccinations, animal health checks and sterilization of dogs and cats are also carried out for population control.
Then there was also the adoption of a pet cat that had previously been quarantined at the West Java Animal Hospital in Cikole, Lembang, West Bandung Regency.
Symbolic release of long-tailed monkeys into their habitat.
In addition to the Deputy Governor, the West Java Kick Out Rabies, Deputy Regent of Bandung, Syahrul Gunawan, was enthusiastically welcomed by pet lovers. (*/Nis)
