Junior High School Student in Nagekeo, NTT, Dies from Rabies After Dog Bite

A recently graduated junior high school student in Boawae District, Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has died with symptoms suspected to be a rabies infection. The victim, identified by the initials YKM, had previously been bitten on the hand by a dog. Following the incident, she did not receive an anti-rabies vaccine, even though the dog that bit her was only about a month old. Boawae Police Chief Ipda Ferdi Leonard Mina Belo confirmed on Thursday that the victim had just finished junior high school. He explained that the bite occurred at the victim’s home on 9 February 2026. After the incident, YKM continued her daily activities as usual without further medical treatment. Four months later, her condition deteriorated, and she ultimately died in the Emergency Unit of the Boawae Community Health Centre, exhibiting symptoms pointing to rabies. Prior to her death, YKM was taken to a health facility after complaining of dizziness, epigastric pain, and weakness. A medical examination revealed several symptoms identical to a rabies infection, including hydrophobia and excessive saliva production. “She was afraid of water, afraid of light, afraid of wind, sensitive to sound, had difficulty swallowing, and produced excessive saliva,” Ferdi stated.