45 die of rabies on Flores island

45 die of rabies on Flores island

JAKARTA (JP): At least 45 people on Flores island, East Nusa
Tenggara, have died of rabies this year, prompting authorities to
issue a warning to dog owners to chain their pets or face their
eradication.

Recent lab tests have confirmed that the victims, 43 in Ngada
district and two in Ende district, died of the rabies virus after
being bitten by stray dogs.

"Dogs in Flores, especially in Ngada, are infected with
rabies. They have to be eliminated," Ngada Regent Albert Botha
was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday after a coordinating
meeting with East Nusa Tenggara regents.

Botha said out of the estimated 80,000 dogs in the regency,
23,000 have already been "put to sleep".

"We are calling on dog owners to tie up their dogs. The
community is aware of this situation," he said, adding that all
dogs should also be vaccinated against the virus.

Ende Regent Paulinus Domi also warned that dogs found
wandering the streets would be destroyed.

He said that nearly half of the estimated 70,000 dogs in Ende
have been killed.

"The best way to end rabies in Flores is to eliminate all its
dogs, because laboratory tests show that 95 percent of dogs are
positive with rabies," he asserted.(01)