Ministry confirms 17th death due to rabies in Sarawak

A dog owner having her dog vaccinated in Kuching following the rabies outbreak in August last year. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING: The health ministry has confirmed the death of a 26-year-old man due to rabies here yesterday, bringing the death toll to 17 since the outbreak of the disease in Sarawak.

In a statement today, the ministry said a laboratory test was conducted yesterday on a sample from the case and it was confirmed to be rabies.

“With the confirmation of the latest case, the number of rabies cases in Sarawak, since the outbreak of the disease was declared on July 1, 2017, is 18, including 17 deaths.

“The ministry wishes to remind the public, especially in Sarawak, not to approach animals in their neighbouhood whose rabies vaccination status is not known.

“These animals may have been infected with the rabies virus,” the statement warned. - FMT