In Reply to: unfortunately dadvet posted by kepala_udang on Thursday, 11. December 2008 at 20:10 Bali Time:
vaccinated against other disease has no bearing on its likelihood of catching rabies. From infection to any clinical sign can be several weeks to several months so of course dogs that are apparently 100% healthy may be incubating the disease. In the past very few Bali dogs have been rabies vaccinated so very few have any protection. Rabies vaccination requires a booster after one year and how can that be universally organised in Bali where so many are unidentified and esentially feral.
I do not advocate inhumane euthanasia but I do think euthanasia is the only means of controlling the dog population to any reasonable limit.
For a number of years I taught university level courses in zoonoses (animal diseases transmissable to humans)so I do have a real knowledge of the problem. Throughout my veterinary career I have always advocated humane practices but I do also feel that risk to human life is an over-riding concern. The island of Flores has already had over 160 human deaths from rabies this year and its dog population is much less than Bali.
As to practising in Indonesia it is illegal for a foreign person to get a practising certificate even though I have residency and work permit for other purposes. So I only practise where I do have the right - I am not an ex-vet.