“There have been 11 deaths in total. Of these, two occurred in 2024, but nine people have already died this year,” explained José dos Reis Magno.
The deaths were recorded in the municipalities of Covalima (4), Oecussi (3), Bobonaro (2), Ermera (1), and Liquiçá (1), according to the vice minister for Institutional Health Reinforcement.
He also disclosed that two thousand doses of rabies vaccines, supplied by Indonesia, arrived in Timor-Leste on July 24.
Rabies was first reported in the western part of Timor Island in May 2023 and resurfaced in Timor-Leste in 2024.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry urged people in July to vaccinate dogs, cats, and monkeys against rabies.
The government also banned the transportation of these animals between municipalities, including Ataúro and Oecussi, an enclave on the Indonesian side of Timor Island, and the entry of animals from abroad into the country.
Authorities are also culling stray dogs and cats.
