KUCHING: A woman and two men have died from rabies in Sarawak so far this month, bringing the total fatalities to 71 out of 78 human cases since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.
State Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the latest victims were a 39-year-old woman from Kuching, a 61-year-old man from Bintulu, and a 42-year-old man from Kuching.
The woman was bitten by a stray dog at her housing area last December, while both men had been scratched and bitten by their pet dogs and cats last year.
All three victims did not get treatment or the anti-rabies vaccination, Dr Ooi said in a statement yesterday.
He also said the two male victims’ pets roamed freely with stray animals and were not vaccinated against rabies.
Of the cumulative 78 human cases in the state, Dr Ooi said 38 were caused by pet dogs, 20 from stray dogs, five from pet cats, and one from a stray cat.
In the remaining 14 cases, he said the cause of rabies could not be determined.
“We wish to remind the public that humans can get rabies from infected animals.
“From 2017 to epidemiological week three of 2024 (Jan 14-20), a total of 52,969 dog bite cases, 43,345 cat bite cases and 1,490 bite cases involving other animals have been reported.
“On average, 381 animal bite cases were reported in Sarawak weekly from Dec 31, 2023 to Jan 20 (this year),” he said.
He advised the public to seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility if they are bitten or scratched.
“Rabies can be prevented with the anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin jab, even after being bitten by a rabid animal,” Dr Ooi said.
