4,000 rabies cases in past five years

4,000 rabies cases in past five years

JAKARTA (JP): More than 4,000 cases of rabies were found in
the capital over the last five years a city councilor said.

Syarif Zulkarnaen Ginting of the commission for public welfare
said yesterday that in the period of 1990-1994 between 590 and
1,396 patients a year were treated for rabies.

This year, up until July, 400 rabies patients had been
recorded, he added.

Only half last years' 1,129 patients received the anti-rabies
serum, he told the plenary session on the approval of the bill on
the control of rabies-carrying animals.

The bill stipulates every animal which has the potential to
carry the rabies virus must be vaccinated. It also states the
breeding of such animals must be approved by the governor.

Syarif said the growing interest of Jakartans in pets, such as
dogs, monkeys and cats, brought about the possibility of an
increase in rabies to the city.

"Therefore, the city administration must tighten control of
such animals," he said.

The high incidence of rabies could also disrupt the
administration's efforts to attract more tourists to the city, he
said, calling the administration's attention to the eradication
of the disease.

Yesterday's plenary session was led by deputy chairman of the
City Council H.M. Djufrie and was attended by the City Secretary
Harun Al Rasyid.

Djufrie said that it was necessary for the city administration
to take concrete steps to control the animals.

"Rabies is as dangerous a disease as other infectious
diseases," he said. (32)