10 rabies-infected areas in S’wak now

KUCHING: Three more areas in Sarawak have been declared rabies-infected, bringing the total to 10. They are Siburan Bazaar and Kampung Temong Mura in Serian district and Rumah Janta Punggu Mawang in Sri Aman, the State Disaster Management Committee said.

It added in a statement that the state Veterinary Services Depart­ment report showed there were still rabies-positive samples from dogs and cats within a 10km radius of the outbreak area in Serian.

The samples were taken from Kampung Ampungan, Kampung Men­tong Berawan, Kampung Men­tong Silaga, Kampung Engkabang, Kampung Tampek Sumpas, Kam­pung Rasau, Serian town and the 45th mile of the Kuching-Sri Aman road.

“An integrated operation was carried out by the department and the state Local Government and Housing Ministry at the 7th Mile market, 10th Mile market and Siburan following Siburan’s declaration as a rabies-positive area for dogs,” the committee said.

In a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, the committee discussed further measures to contain the spread of the disease, including learning from the experience of Indonesia, Thailand and India.

The meeting was also attended by Health Ministry senior principal assistant director of zoonosis Dr Vickneshwaran Muthu, Australia-based Vets Beyond Borders non-­executive director Dr Andrea Britton and a representative from the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

To date, 9,185 animals have been vaccinated, including 2,656 dogs, 6,491 cats and 38 other animals.

The committee also detected 49 new dog bite cases yesterday, bringing the total to 415 since April 1.

“A total of 298 people have been vaccinated. Those who have been bitten in the affected areas should come forward immediately for a check-up and vaccination,” it said.