KUCHING: A total 50 cases of people bitten by dogs in Serian, Kuching and Sri Aman divisions were detected as of last Tuesday.
Two locations namely the Sungai Maong wet market here and Kampung Serikin in Bau were declared as rabies infected areas, bringing the total of infected areas to 22.
To date the rabies outbreak in the Serian division has claimed the lives of four children and an adult. It is understood that a number of individuals who were bitten by dogs have been placed at the quarantine ward of the Sarawak General Hospital for observation.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Dr James Masing appeals the members of the public who have been bitten by dogs in the last three months to seek medical care immediately.
Masing said the incubation period for rabies is between three weeks and three months and once the signs and symptoms of rabies develop, the disease is almost always fatal.
He also urged local councils to cull stray dogs that showed symptoms of rabies.
“We don’t have much choice now and this is the only way if we want to contain the disease in Sarawak,” he added.
