PUTRAJAYA: A 44-year-old man died from a rabies infection in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, marking the country’s first recorded fatality from the disease this year, the Health Minister announced.
Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said investigations found that the victim, who died on Feb 25, had no history of animal bites.
However, the victim was fond of feeding strays and kept about 15 dogs, one of which was reported to have died suddenly early last month.
“This case serves as a reminder that rabies infection does not necessarily originate from a bite,” Dzulkefly said in a post on X yesterday.
He said infections could also occur through close contact, scratches or when handling the carcass of an infected animal without proper protection.
Dzulkefly stressed the importance of the “One Health” approach, where the health of humans and animals, as well as the state of the environment, are closely interconnected.
“When one is affected, we are all at risk.”
He said that since the rabies outbreak was declared in 2017, a total of 91 cases had been reported with 84 deaths, reflecting an extremely high fatality rate of about 93%.
The minister advised the public to take immediate preventive measures, including washing bite or scratch wounds with running water and soap.
He said victims were also advised to seek post-exposure prophylaxis treatment immediately. Dzulkefly said pets should be vaccinated annually and people should avoid handling stray animals with unknown vaccination status.
The public should immediately report suspicious animal deaths to the Veterinary Services Department or the local authorities.
