AREA-BASED DISEASE MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS:RABIES OUTBREAK (EXTRAORDINARY EVENT) AT THE LIVESTOCK SERVICE OFFICE OF SOUTHCENTRAL TIMOR REGENCY CENTRAL TIMOR REGENCY

Abstrak

Rabies has remained a persistent public health problem in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province since it was first identified as an outbreak on Flores Island in 1997. The disease spread to West Timor, with the first confirmed case in South Central Timor (TTS) Regency on May 30, 2023. Since then, rabies has rapidly expanded across all districts of West Timor, resulting in 35,333 bite cases and 60 deaths throughout NTT, of which TTS Regency accounted for the highest cases (4,787 bites and 19 deaths). This study analyzes the management of the rabies outbreak in TTS Regency using an area-based disease management approach (Manajemen Penyakit Berbasis Wilayah/MPBW). The approach is grounded in Governor Regulation No. 34 of 2024 concerning Rabies Control in NTT, supported by regency-level regulations and coordination with provincial task forces. Data were obtained through document reviews, daily records from the Rabies Emergency Post, and interviews with government officials and community representatives. Findings show that rabies control in TTS Regency faces challenges such as limited vaccination coverage, uncontrolled dog movement, low public awareness, and insufficient cross-sectoral integration. However, coordinated efforts through vaccination campaigns, quarantine measures, community empowerment, and risk management strategies have provided a framework for reducing transmission risks. The study concludes that rabies prevention and control require comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and area-based strategies that integrate technical, institutional, and social responses. Strengthening community participation and ensuring sustainable vaccination programs are essential to achieving long-term rabies elimination in NTT.