KUCHING: As reported on Jan 23, four more areas have been reported positive for rabies virus.
In a statement by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee yesterday, the cases were reported at Simpang Perindustrian Similaju area, along Jalan Pesisir Bintulu/Miri, Bintulu; Kampung Grogo, Bau; Kampung Sibuluh, Bau and Kampung Bobak Singai, also in Bau.
Four out of six sample results have been reported positive for rabies virus through Direct Fluorescent Antibody test.
Yesterday, Simpang Perindustrian Similaju area along Jalan Pesisir Bintulu/Miri, Bintulu was declared as a new rabies-infected area, while areas within10km radius of the infected area are also affected.
Since July 2017, 61 areas in Sarawak except Limbang have been declared as rabies-infected areas.
Accumulatively, 949 samples have been collected. The sample consisted of 861 dog samples, 81 cat samples and seven others.
Of the 338 positive results, 315 dog samples and 23 samples of cats have been confirmed positive rabies virus. It is also reported that the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak has vaccinated 110, 435 out of 225,000 dogs throughout Sarawak with anti-rabies vaccination.
To control the dog population, the inter-agency operations with the Local Government Minister have caught 14,030 dogs from Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Samarahan, Betong, and Serian division.
It is said that awareness campaigns have been held in schools, villages, and public places, especially in areas affected by
the epidemic.
Among the strategies for eliminating rabies in Sarawak include maintaining immune belt along the boarder with Kalimantan, mass dog vaccination to achieve at least 70 percent of the total dog population, offensive containment of rabies outbreak within the infected areas, defensive isolation to prevent transmission to new areas, enhancing rapid diagnostic capacity and capability for canine rabies, as well as enforcing dog licensing by-laws.
