The path to diagnosing a rabies infection

If a dog (or any other animal) suspected to have rabies bites a human, it is usually put to sleep and a brain sample is taken to be tested for the virus. Sometimes, the pet owner is allowed to keep the animal strictly caged up for a month to see if it develops any rabies symptoms. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

Sarawak State Health Department (JKN Sarawak) statistics show that between Jan 1 and Sept 13, 2025, the state recorded 13,894 animal bite cases.

Of these, one in six involved cat bites or scratches (59.7% or 8,297 cases), two in five involved dogs (39% or 5,422 cases) and the remainder involved other animals (1.3% or 175 cases).