44 people die of rabies

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The government of Lembata regency here declared an emergency situation on Thursday after 44 people died in the past week due to rabies.

The latest victim was seven-year-old Ferdinandus Lolong Langari, who died on Thursday, after being bitten by a rabid dog.

In order to control the outbreak, the government has shot dead 212 dogs suspected of having the virus since Sunday, and is now hunting down more, said Maria Geong, the head of Animal Husbandry Office at the Lembata administration.

The government will also vaccinate the remaining healthy dogs in the regency, said Maria. -- JP