(ID) Rabies in Bali

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The Jakarta Post Letters: Bali can easily return to rabies-free

 

Fri, 04/24/2009 12:54 PM | Reader's Forum

 

This is in response to the article, " Worldwide objection to dog

extermination program " (The Jakarta Post, April 18). Putri Jayaningsih, head

of the Bali Veterinarian Office, seems to have missed the point of why

international organizations are against Bali's dog culling program.

 

First, strychnine results in an agonizing death and is not accepted

internationally as a humane method for euthanasia. Second, most of the food

baited with strychnine will be eaten by dogs that have limited street

experience (such as vaccinated, sterilized pet dogs) while true feral dogs

will often learn to avoid these types of hazards. And last, culling programs

result in population disruptions, which increases the likelihood of disease

spread because dogs will migrate into areas that are no longer being

occupied by the resident dogs.

 

As is repeated in numerous reports, the World Health Organization (WHO)

states that 70 percent of the dog population must be vaccinated in order to

control a rabies epidemic and all international NGOs are supportive of an

effective rabies vaccination program for Bali. Unfortunately, in the first

round of the rabies vaccination program run by the government only reached

39 percent of the dog population in the infected area; this is well below

the WHO target.

 

The low vaccination rate is likely a result of poor community awareness

about free government vaccination days, which lead to low community

attendance. In addition to, the two-month (Feb. and March) cessation of the

vaccination program which resulted in a lost opportunity to vaccinate

thousands of dogs.

 

It is true effective vaccination strategies require resources and

commitment; but they also reap benefits in the long term. Culling dogs is a

short-term measure as it is neither effective in controlling rabies nor in

controlling the dog population. If the government is serious in reducing the

dog population then it should be supporting local NGOs already running

animal birth control programs.

 

Bali is no different to other cities around the world that have rabies and

free-roaming dog populations, but Bali does have the advantage of being a

small island. Thus, with the implementation of an effective vaccination

program and strict control over animal importation and quarantine, Bali can

very easily return to rabies-free.

 

Dani Stokeld

Denpasar