Kuching, Bintulu declared rabies-infected areas

 

All dog owners have been urged to ensure that their pets are vaccinated with the anti-rabies vaccine. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING: Kuching and Bintulu have been declared rabies-infected areas.

Sarawak minister for food industry, commodity and regional development Stephen Rundi Utom said of the 16 samples collected, 12 dogs tested positive for rabies, eight of which were in Kuching, one each in Padawan and Bau, and two in Bintulu.

“All dogs tested are strays and unvaccinated. Therefore, I would like to remind the public to take extra precautions and go to the clinic if bitten by an animal,” he said in a statement here today.

Rundi said he had also signed the anti-rabies vaccination order under Section 40 (1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 which required all dogs within the state to be submitted to anti-rabies vaccination and an annual booster.

He said dog owners must also be responsible in ensuring that their pets are vaccinated with the anti-rabies vaccine.

“Any owner or person in charge of a dog who fails to comply shall be liable to a fine of up to RM2,500. Dogs that are already exposed to rabies and do not have proper evidence of vaccination will be put to sleep,” he said.

Rundi said the Sarawak department of veterinary services (DVS), together with the immune belt enforcement team and Sarawak security and enforcement unit (UKPS), had intensified the anti-rabies vaccination programmes throughout the state.

“The public can get their free dog anti-rabies vaccination at any government veterinary offices during office hours or during the mass vaccination programme which will be announced from time to time on the official Sarawak DVS Facebook page. This year, we target to vaccinate up to 50,000 dogs,” he said.

According to the state health department, Sarawak recorded 16 deaths last year from 18 human rabies cases.

The cumulative total human rabies cases since July 2017 till now stood at 73, with 66 deaths. - FMT