This past fall I wrote a blog about the world rabies day on September 28th. To catch up click here http://www.prestonspeaks.com/2010/10/10/rabies-is-still-a-threat/ Well I recently read about how Indonesia is taking positive steps to solve their rabies issue in a unique way.
In developing country’s rabies is still a major threats to the residents. in December of 2009 Bali had a rabies crisis on their hands. They had their first death. Before it was said and done 93 people died of rabies and the virus had spread to all 9 providences in Indonesia. So the government took a very common approach and killed over 100,000 stray dogs in an attempt to curb the spread of this deadly virus. However, this approach wasn’t working, rabies was still spreading among the remaining dogs. So in partnership with the World Society for the Protection of Animals they decided to implement a mass vaccination campaign to immunize over 400,000 dogs. Since they have started the campaign there hasn’t been one new human infection.
I think it is awesome that Indonesia is taking a different approach. Hopefully more developing countries will take their lead and not kill hundred of thousands of dogs when a shot will do. I think us here in American take for granted what a good job our government does to protect us from disease such as rabies. Now if I could just convince you humans to get a rabies shot every year instead of making us dogs have it. . Can’t you tell I don’t like shots hehehehe.
