Balangan Prone to Wild Dog Attack

Paringin, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - The Balangan District , South Kalimantan, is considered to be vulnerable to wild dog attack.

Beginning in December two children got a stray dog ​​attack in Uren Village, Halong Subdistrict, from five cases occurred during 2017.

The residents hope the Health Agency and related institutions to immediately do the handling and prevention quickly, so that the victim will not increase. It is feared that the dog carries the rabies virus.

Head of Agricultural Agency Ir Tuhalu revealed to minimize the spread of rabies, in fact the agency through the livestock department routinely carry out vaccination against pet dogs.

Since July 2017, the Health Agency has been vaccinating dogs in every home.

"The initial vaccinations are conducted in Halong, where many people keep dogs, and vaccinations against pet dogs are preferred, because they often mix with people," he said.

Vaccination is to minimize the spread of rabies if bitten by a dog. Pet dog population in Halong currently is about 560.

While the rainy season is a potential of wild dogs come out of forest. "Residents must be alert, because the presence of wild dogs that mingle with pet dogs can not be detected, so it does not rule out the dog attacked suddenly," he called.

Two sub-districts that are vulnerable to the presence of wild dogs that potentially contain rabies virus are Halong and Tebing Tinggi.

On the other hand, Head of Control and Countermeasures of Infectious Diseases of Health Agency Abdullah Majidi revealed that rabies virus is not only in mad dogs, but also in animals such as cats and monkeys.

According to Health Agency data in 2015 there were 13 cases of dog bites and one cat bite, in 2016 four cases of dog bites and five cases of cat bites, and until mid December 2017 there were five cases of dog bites.