PETALING JAYA: A 44-year-old man in Sarawak has died of rabies, the country’s first recorded fatality from the disease this year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said the victim, a local man from Kota Samarahan, passed away on Feb 25.
"Investigations found the man had no known history of animal bites but frequently fed strays and kept about 15 dogs as pets.
"One of his pet dogs died suddenly in early February.
"Since the rabies outbreak was declared in 2017, a total of 91 cases have been reported nationwide, with 84 deaths recorded.
"This is a fatality rate of about 93%," Dzulkefly said in a statement on Thursday (March 5).
ALSO READ: Sarawak reports six rabies cases affecting humans in 2025
The latest case served as a reminder that rabies infection may not always come from a clearly recognised bite, he added.
"Close contact, scratches or handling the carcass of an infected animal without protection can still pose a high risk of infection.
"When one is affected, everyone is at risk," he said.
Among the preventive steps he highlighted are: washing bite or scratch wounds with running water and soap for at least 15 minutes; seeking immediate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment; vaccinating pets annually; avoiding handling stray animals with unknown vaccination status; and reporting suspicious animal deaths to the Veterinary Services Department or local authorities.
