Residents Pleased with DKPP Bandung’s Door-to-Door Rabies Vaccination, Here Are the Signs of Rabies-Infected Animals

In an effort to prevent rabies, the Food Security and Agriculture Office (DKPP) of Bandung City conducted free door-to-door rabies vaccinations in RW 07, Cibadak Village, Astanaanyar District, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Wilsandi Saefuloh, Head of the Livestock and Animal Health Division of DKPP Bandung, stated that the mass rabies vaccinations, held from July 3 to 15, 2023, were not only carried out door-to-door but also at 38 private veterinary clinics. The rabies vaccination campaign, which targeted both pets and stray animals, was met with enthusiasm by residents who brought their cats and dogs for vaccination. Many people flocked to the RW 07 office, although a few cats had to miss the vaccination due to stress and agitation.

Some residents from neighboring RW 08 and RW 06 also took advantage of the free rabies vaccination program. One of the beneficiaries, Neneng Tiarni (35), expressed her gratitude as the medical team came to her home to vaccinate her eight pet cats. “I am very thankful the doctors came because I don’t have a place to bring my cats to the RW post,” she said.

The DKPP team, led by Wilsandi, included one veterinarian, Dr. Buhori Muslim, along with 10 veterinary students from Universitas Padjadjaran who were interning. According to Wilsandi, four types of animals are at risk of carrying rabies: cats, dogs, monkeys, and civets. He explained the signs of a rabies-infected animal, including difficulty eating, fear of light and water, aggressive behavior, and excessive drooling. “After a bite, both the human victim and the animal must be monitored,” Wilsandi emphasized.

In addition to the door-to-door vaccinations, the DKPP Bandung also offered the rabies vaccine at various locations across the city. RW 07 of Cibadak Village was one of the focal points of the door-to-door vaccination campaign. The program, which aimed to vaccinate thousands of rabies-carrying animals (HPR), was supported by 10,000 vials of vaccine, including 2,500 vials recently provided by the West Java Provincial Government.

The vaccinations were part of the Laman Hati program (Integrated Animal Health Management Services), which also sought to educate residents about animal health management, animal identification, and animal traffic health.