PETALING JAYA: With 11 cases of rabies in the state this year – nine of them fatal – dog owners in Sarawak have been told to ensure their pets are vaccinated against the disease.
The owners must also confine the dogs if there are signs of rabies and call the veterinary department immediately.
“If a person is bitten, they should cleanse the wound for 15 minutes and seek anti-rabies treatment at a hospital immediately,” said Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
He said dog owners should also obtain licences from the local council and ensure their pets are not allowed to wander around.
“Dog should also be neutered,” he said, adding that DVSS provides free anti-rabies vaccinations at its offices.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said dogs are the main source of rabies deaths and account for up to 99% of all rabies transmission to humans.
“It can be prevented through vaccination of dogs and by avoiding dog bites. Rabies is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that mostly affects marginalised, poor and vulnerable populations,” she said.
Rabies is included in World Health Organisation 2021-2030 Roadmap for global control of neglected tropical diseases.
As a zoonotic disease, it requires close cross-sectoral coordination from the veterinary department, health providers (hospitals) and the environment,” Dr Sharifa added.
Separately, Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom told a press conference in Kuching yesterday that since the first outbreak in 2017, 366 rabid dog bites had been reported, with 300 patients surviving due to early treatment.
“Of the 66 deaths, 59 were due to delay or no treatment,” he said, adding that 232,198 anti-rabies vaccinations had been administered as at May 8.
Dr Stephen said DVSS received an average of 250 animal bite notifications monthly, with all positive sampling cases this year within the rabies infection areas.
Sarawak’s action plan also includes collaborating and communicating with its neighbours Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia to keep an eye on migration of animals across their borders.
