Indonesia to Vaccinate 400,000 Dogs against Rabies

BALI, KOMPAS.com — Indonesia will vaccinate 400,000 dogs against rabies on the resort island of Bali, officials said Tuesday, as they cranked up efforts to wipe out an epidemic that has killed dozens of people. Local authorities — who have been overwhelmed with reports of dog bites — came under heavy criticism earlier this year after they started killing stray dogs by the tens of thousands.

They said they could not afford mass vaccinations recommended by the World Health Organization and others.  Bali’s governor, Made Pastika, said thanks to funds provided by a global alliance of animal welfare organizations, “we now have a humane alternative for protecting our people and our animals.”

He and others said they hoped to see Bali rabies-free by 2012.  More than 80 people have died from rabies this year alone — including several young children. With another 30,000 others bitten, hospitals across the island of 3 million people have on several occasions found themselves out of free post-exposure vaccines.

The epidemic got so bad that several countries, including the United States and Australia, had to advise vacationers to consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccinations before arriving and to stay clear of dogs roaming the island’s white-sand beaches.