Belu Regency Establishes Task Force Following Rabies-Infected Cat Attacks on 11 People
The Belu Regency Government has vaccinated 77 cats as part of ongoing efforts to combat rabies. The regency has also formed a task force to sweep for rabies-carrying animals (RCA) such as dogs and cats.
This action follows an attack by a rabies-infected cat that occurred in Manumutin Village, Kota Atambua District, Belu, on Sunday, 14 March 2026, during which 11 residents were bitten.
The Head of the Livestock and Fisheries Office of Belu Regency, Yos Sudarso Dami, stated that vaccination against animals capable of transmitting the rabies virus continues to be conducted by the local government.
“So starting today, we have already begun sweeping again regarding animals in the area, including cats and dogs at the location,” said Yos in a telephone conversation on Monday, 17 March 2026.
According to him, the number of cats to be vaccinated will continue to increase. “There are 77 cats that have been vaccinated and we will continue tomorrow because the current weather conditions are rainy, so we will resume tomorrow,” said Yos.
Officers will sweep two areas: Manumutin Village and Border Village. He explained that the Livestock and Fisheries Office of Belu Regency has currently formed a working team in the field to sweep for animals with the potential to transmit the rabies virus.
“Currently, officers from the Livestock and Fisheries Office of Belu Regency, in the form of a task force of 30 people, are conducting sweeps and have found 124 dogs and cats,” he stated.
According to Yos, before the rabies-infected cat attack case, Belu had never recorded any cases of rabies in humans. “There have been cases of rabies or RCA, but there have been no bites to humans until now—this is the first case,” he concluded.
Previously reported, 11 residents in RT 12 and RW 03, Manumutin Village, Kota Atambua District, Belu Regency, were bitten by a rabies-infected cat.
From examination results at the Laboratory of the Livestock and Fisheries Office of Belu Regency, the cat that bit 11 people tested positive for rabies after its brain tissue was examined. The rabies case transmitted through a cat bite is the first case to occur in East Nusa Tenggara Province. Until now, rabies transmission has been dominated by dogs.