High school student dies of rabies

Tue, 09/09/2008 10:14 AM | The Archipelago

KUPANG, E. Nusa Tenggara: An 18-year-old student died Saturday after reportedly being bitten by a rabid dog in Maumere, Sikka regency.

Apolorianus K Rehing, a student of St. Gabriel vocational high school, died after being treated for several hours at Maumere general hospital.

"She was rushed here in terrible condition. We tried to help her, but failed to save her life," hospital director Asep Purnama said.

Asep said a team of doctors had deduced from Apolorianus' symptoms that the cause of death was rabies.

"She was afraid of light and water. Her mouth was foaming and she shouted like a dog," he said.

The East Nusa Tenggara provincial husbandry office recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to eliminate rabies.

A rabies epidemic hit East Flores in 1997 and a record 2,064 cases were reported in the region in August this year. During the month, Manggarai, Ngada, Ende, Sikka, Lembata and West Manggarai regencies recorded 5,043, 3,362, 2,186, 2,999, 747 and 625 cases of the disease, respectively. -- JP

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