KUCHING: Sarawak has recorded seven deaths from rabies this year, bringing the total fatalities to 75 since the outbreak began in 2017, the state legislative assembly was told.
State Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi said 82 cases had been reported to date.
"For the information of the House, rabies death is preventable. Please follow the procedures from the health authorities," he said in his winding-up speech on Tuesday (Nov 19).
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Dr Rundi also said 114 out of 822 animal samples had tested positive for rabies as of Nov 7, with cases identified in Kuching (74), Serian (six), Sri Aman, Kapit and Mukah (four each), Samarahan (eight) and Bintulu (14).
In response to the high number of rabies-positive dogs in Kuching, he said the state disaster management committee initiated an integrated rabies operation in the city, focusing on areas with the highest incidence of human rabies cases.
"The operation involved house-to-house checks for compliance with dog licensing laws, rabies vaccinations and the targeted removal of stray dogs," he said.
In addition, Dr Rundi said 13,757 dogs were vaccinated in Sarawak this year up to October.
He said the state Veterinary Services Department (DVS) will continue to carry out mass vaccinations statewide as well as awareness programmes.
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"The establishment of mobile veterinary teams will accelerate the vaccination coverage to at least 50,000 dogs yearly," he added.
Dr Rundi also said DVS had eradicated African swine fever in Sarawak, which had previously devastated the state's swine industry.
He said no new cases had been detected following effective control measures taken by the department.
