Rabies kills one in Sikka

Rabies kills one in Sikka

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Dogs carrying the rabies virus in
Sikka regency have bitten and infected 13 people, killing one of
them, a local health official said on Monday.

Henyo Kerong of Sikka health office said the remaining dog
bite victims were undergoing medical treatment at local community
health centers.

He said the people infected with rabies lived in seven
districts across the regency. The areas affected are Alok,
Kewapante, Talebura, Maumere, Bola, Lela and Nita.

The disease was detected in July last year when a villager
brought a dog infected with the virus from Sulawesi, according to
Henyo.

The local husbandry office has since killed 61,270 dogs
suspected of being infected with rabies.

An outbreak of rabies hit the East Nusa Tenggara regency of
East Flores in May 1997, killing 10 people. More than 490 rabies
sufferers recovered then. The local administration exterminated
170,000 dogs following the outbreak.

Since being declared a rabies-free area in 1926, East Nusa
Tenggara saw a dramatically increased population of domesticated
dogs. They were used for hunting or as cattle dogs. (yac)