KUCHING: The anti-rabies vaccination programme in Sarawak will include cats, as infected animals can spread the disease to humans, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
The Sarawak Deputy Premier said cats were responsible for 5% of rabies cases in the state.
He also said the first human rabies case recorded in the state this year was transmitted from a cat.
The 13-year-old boy had a history of being scratched when he fed stray cats in February.
"Now he is in critical condition at the Sarawak General Hospital.
"So apart from dogs, cats also need to be vaccinated in our ongoing fight against rabies," Uggah said in a statement on Friday (May 30).
He also said the state Veterinary Services Department was considering the use of oral vaccines to overcome challenges in getting dog owners to vaccinate their pets.
"The response is not encouraging. Some owners have problems getting their pets vaccinated," he said.
Uggah again reminded those bitten or scratched to wash the wounds with running water and soap for at least 20 minutes before seeking immediate treatment at the nearest post-bite clinic.
He said there were 255 post-bite clinics at government hospitals and health clinics statewide, while 18 private health facilities also offered treatment.
"We can avoid fatalities and other complications this way," he said.
Since the outbreak began in 2017, 84 human rabies cases have been recorded in Sarawak to date, resulting in 76 deaths.
Over the same period, the authorities have vaccinated 267,883 animals as part of prevention efforts.
Some 4,858 animal samples were also collected and tested, of which 1,140 or 23% returned positive for rabies.
