The Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture, and Food Security Agency (KPKP) continues to protect Jakarta free of rabies and prevent bites by animals that transmit the rabies virus (GHPR).

We keep calling on residents to prevent bites from animals transmitting the rabies virus

To maintain Jakarta free of rabies, the policies and strategies implemented include intensifying rabies vaccinations targeting dogs, cats, monkeys, and ferrets sustainably and population control through the sterilization of rabies-transmitting animals (HPR).

Jakrta KPKP Agency Head, Suharinu Eliawati said his party has alerted the Kasatlak in every sub-district, thus residents can be proactive through RT, RW, and cadres can coordinate directly to their respective sub-district offices regarding the need for free rabies vaccinations for animals, taking over wild animals, sterilizing animals, and others.

It was recorded that 20,423 rabies-transmitting animals had been vaccinated from January to June 2023. Meanwhile, 3,532 HPRs sterilized during the same period.

"We keep calling on residents to prevent bites from animals transmitting the rabies virus, control the HPR population through sterilization, carry out surveillance of rabies animals, implement integrated management of HPR bites, communicate educational information about rabies, and responsible animal ownership," she expressed, Thursday (7/6).

She explained rabies is a major zoonotic animal disease and has always been a public health problem. Since 2004, Jakarta's status has been a Rabies-Free area as stipulated by Agriculture Minister's Decree Number 566/Kpts/PD.640/10/2004 on Statement of Rabies-Free Jakarta, Banten, and West Java.

"However, Jakarta remains a high risk area for rabies transmission as it borders areas that are not yet free of rabies and has high traffic of Rabies Transmitting Animals or HPR to Jakarta," she stated.