WHO says 71 Indonesian citizens have died due to rabies, this province is the most affected

Jakarta –

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are pushing for comprehensive action across Indonesia to stop human rabies deaths.

Between January and July 2024, public data shows that 71 Indians died of rabies. Among the 26 rabies endemic areas in Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is the most affected with reports of 19,320 cases of bites from animals that may be rabies in humans in 2023.

This resulted in 35 deaths due to rabies. Between January and July 2024, NTT reported 16,180 cases of possible rabid animal bites and 27 deaths due to rabies.

“Communities in areas affected by rabies must be given knowledge and access to interventions that can save lives,” said Dr N Paranietharan, WHO Representative for Indonesia, according to information obtained by detikcom, on Friday (27/9/2024).

“As of the beginning of 2023, almost 4 out of 5 Indonesians who died of rabies did not seek medical treatment after being bitten, because they did not understand its importance. It must be dealt with immediately with strong and comprehensive measures,” he continued. .

For your information, rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that attacks the central nervous system, but it can be prevented by vaccination. Up to 99 percent of human rabies cases are transmitted through the bite of an infected dog. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost 100 percent fatal. In Indonesia, children under the age of 15 often suffer from rabies.

(suck/naf)