Kerinci puts down dogs in rabies fight<\/p>\n
Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post\/Jambi<\/p>\n
In an effort to come to grips with a rabies outbreak, the Kerinci
\nregency administration has in the past month put down 281 dogs
\nbelieved to have been infected with the disease. \"The
\nadministration's team of veterinarians is examining other dogs
\nbelieved to be infected with rabies. We expect more dogs to be
\nput down,\" said the director of the Kerinci Animal Husbandry and
\nFisheries Agency, Hasani.<\/p>\n
The number of dogs in the regency is estimated some 38,000.
\nMany local people use dogs to guard their farms against attacks
\nby wild pigs.<\/p>\n
The drastic measure was taken after eight Kerinci residents
\nwere infected with the virus this year and the number is expected
\nto grow unless precautionary measures are taken.<\/p>\n
Last year, the number of people infected by rabies from dog
\nbites amounted to over 20. No fatalities were reported but the
\nspread of the disease has alarmed the regency government,
\nespecially given that the regency is a popular destination for
\ntourists. The most popular tourist attraction in the regency is
\nthe Kerinci Seblat National Park.<\/p>\n
The threat from rabies is considered serious by the Kerinci
\nadministration, which is waging an antirabies campaign on the
\ninternet. The administration's website (www.kerinci.org), for
\nexample, states that rabies poses a serious threat to tourists
\nvisiting the National Park.<\/p>\n
\"If you are bitten by a dog, you must seek out the dog's owner
\nto find out whether the dog is infected with rabies,\" the website
\nstates.<\/p>\n
If the dog is infected, the person must immediately seek
\nmedical attention.<\/p>\n
\"The treatment is simple. You need to receive an antirabies
\ninjection within three weeks of being bitten,\" the website
\ncontinues.<\/p>\n
As rabies poses a major threat to people in Kerinci, Hasani
\nurged dog owners to pay close attention to their dogs. He
\nsuggested that they have their dogs vaccinated against rabies.<\/p>",
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