rabies Cases Surge in Nagekeo as Vaccine Supplies Dwindle

Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) – A Sharp increase in rabies cases stemming from dog and other animal bites has hit Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This concerning rise coincides with critically low stocks of the anti-rabies vaccine (VAR), coupled with a complete depletion of the anti-rabies serum (SAR).

klementina Dawo, Head Of The Nagekeo Livestock Service Office, issued an urgent appeal Sunday (6/8/2025), urging residents to exercise extreme caution and implement preventive measures to guard against potential animal bites. “this situation is directly tied to the escalating number of animal bite incidents and the dangerously limited availability of both VAR and SAR for humans within Nagekeo Regency,” Dawo stated.

urgent Appeal: Residents Advised To Take Precautions

The Livestock Service Office is strongly advising pet owners-notably those with dogs, cats, or monkeys-to keep their animals securely restrained. Animals should not be allowed to roam freely on public roads or in public spaces. Moreover, owners must ensure their animals’ basic needs are met.

“This includes providing adequate food and water, keeping them properly tied or confined, and preventing them from being released unsupervised,” Klementina emphasized.

Residents are also urged to adhere to vaccination schedules for their animals, as announced in their respective villages. Additionally, the public is advised to avoid disturbing animals while they are eating, sleeping, or nursing their young, to minimize the risk of provoking a bite.

Pro Tip: Educate children on how to safely interact with animals to prevent accidental bites. Supervise interactions with unfamiliar animals.

Immediate Action Required After A Bite

“If a bite occurs,the immediate first aid is to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and running water for a full 15 minutes,” klementina advised. “Following this, the person should be transported to the nearest health center or hospital for further medical attention.” Any bite incident should also be promptly reported to the Animal Husbandry Service for appropriate follow-up.

Critical Shortages: Vaccine And Serum Supplies Weary

Emergentiana Reni Wahjuningsih, Head Of The Nagekeo Health Office, reported that SAR supplies in the region have been exhausted for over a week.VAR stocks are also dwindling rapidly.

Adding to the urgency, “BPBD Nagekeo is actively coordinating with BNPB to address this critical shortage,” Reni explained on Friday, May 30, 2025.

According to Reni, Anti-Rabies Immunoglobulin (SAR) delivers immediate antibodies to combat the rabies virus after being injected. The VAR, on the other hand, introduces rabies antigens, stimulating the body’s own antibody production.

SAR is administered to individuals bitten on the face, while VAR is used for bites occurring on other parts of the body.

“Whether the test results are positive or negative, we administer SAR as a precaution if the bite is on the face, and VAR for bites elsewhere,” Reni clarified.

Alarming Statistics: nearly 300 Rabies Cases Reported

Reni highlighted that, as Of April 2025, Nagekeo had already recorded 299 cases of animal bites suspected of transmitting rabies. The vast majority, 291 cases, were attributed to dog bites, followed by cat bites (seven cases), and one case involving a monkey. Dog bite incidents have continued into May.

She attributed the high incidence rate to a lack of awareness among pet owners, particularly dog owners who allow their animals to roam freely.

“The bite cases are predominantly caused by unleashed dogs, not properly restrained by their owners, as well as stray dogs with unclear ownership,” Reni explained.

While the Health Office is committed to ensuring the availability of VAR,Reni stressed that governmental efforts alone are insufficient. She underscored the necessity of community involvement, particularly responsible pet ownership through proper restraint and vaccination.

“the DHO is constantly striving to maintain an adequate VAR supply. However, without a parallel increase in awareness among dog owners-binding their pets and availing themselves of the free rabies vaccines offered by the Animal Husbandry Service-our efforts will always fall short,” she lamented.

Did You Know? Rabies is nearly 100% fatal if left untreated,but it’s also nearly 100% preventable with timely vaccination after exposure.

Community Resistance: Dog Owners Reject Rabies Testing

Despite annual directives from the regent of Nagekeo mandating that pet dogs be restrained, Reni noted widespread non-compliance. Some owners neglect to feed their dogs adequately, leading to malnutrition and increased susceptibility to rabies.

“The community frequently enough demands VAR availability from the government, but fails to reciprocate by properly caring for and restraining their pets,” She stated. “Some even allow their dogs to become emaciated, making them more vulnerable to the rabies virus.”

Reni also voiced frustration over pet owners who refuse to allow rapid testing on dogs that have bitten humans, citing the requirement to euthanize the dog for testing as a deterrent.

“Manny dog owners are unwilling to subject their dogs to rabies testing because it involves euthanizing the animal to determine if it is positive for rabies,” Reni explained. “They prioritize the lives of their dogs over public health concerns.”

Rabies Prevention: Key facts At A glance