March 05, 2012Ambon, Maluku. At least 50 people have died of rabies in the recent weeks in a reported outbreak in the southwest district of Indonesia’s Maluku province, local officials said on Monday.
“Rabies has killed at least 50 people and hundreds of others have been infected by the virus,” Bernabas Orno said, adding that the outbreak has been reported to Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu.
The deadly virus has hit the remote province hard in recent weeks. The rabies virus is spread through contact with infected animals, who carry the virus in their saliva. Those bitten by an infected animal can avoid contracting the deadly disease if they clean the wound and receive a rabies vaccination within hours of contact.
But rabies vaccine supplies in the remote Southwest Maluku district have run out, Barnabas said. No hospitals in the district have the vaccine, and efforts to control the spread of the virus have failed to make an impact, he added.
“We are badly in need of the provincial government`s help,” Barnabas said.
Without help, Barnabas feared that the rabies epidemic in the Southwest Maluku district would only get worse.
“We are afraid the number of fatalities will continue to increase if the provincial government fails to send the anti-rabies vaccine as soon as possible,” Barnabas said. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/rabies-outbreak-kills-50-in-indonesias-maluku-province/502604
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