SIBU: Two members of the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) dog team were bitten by dogs at Kampung Sentosa, a rabies infected area, last Saturday (June 27).
SMC chairman Clarence Ting said the victims were the driver of the team lorry and the other, a dog catcher.
“They were attacked by dogs while on their round catching stray dogs in Kampung Sentosa at around 10am this morning (June 27),” he said.
One of them was bitten on his right ankle and the other on his hand.
“They were rushed to Sibu Hospital for treatment. The one, who was bitten on his ankle, has to be admitted for further treatment while the other has been discharged,” he added.
The council, he said, was still looking for the dogs which bit the two persons.
Ting described the incident as a “very tragic thing” because the owner of the dogs had failed to exercise his responsibility by letting them roam in the street.
“I have been telling dog owners to keep their pets indoor. If they let their animals out, they might get in contact with others which have rabies. When the dogs come home, their kids might play with them and that’s it,” he said.
Ting said dog owners should also enforce a movement control on their animals.
The council, he said, would hold a meeting on June 30 to decide how best to tackle the rabies issue in the town.
The Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) had, on June 13, declared 10 rabies infected areas in this town.
They are Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Lorong Permai Timur, Kampung Bahagia Jaya Teku, Sibujaya, Mile 1/2 Jalan Oya, Jalan Hua Khiew, Ulu Sungai Merah, Taman Sanhill Barat, Jalan Oya Lama and Jalan Sentosa.
On June 23, a 62-year old man died at Sibu Hospital from rabies. He was bitten on his right calf by a dog belonging to his brother on May 12 in Kampung Sentosa. This is the second rabies death in the state so far this year. The first rabies case this year was a five-year old girl who died in Sibu on March 26.
