KUCHING: A 26-year-old local man believed to be the latest victim of rabies has been hospitalised after having breathing difficulties.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the man, who is being treated at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), was given two dogs by a social media acquaintance in March.
It was not known if the dogs were vaccinated against rabies.
“He was scratched by the dogs while playing with them and did not seek treatment. In the middle of March, both dogs died after showing symptoms of hypersalivation, unsteady gait and hydrophobia,” Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement issued yesterday.
On May 26, the victim became weak and had difficulty breathing. When his symptoms grew worse the following day he was taken to a private hospital.
On Wednesday (May 29), he experienced confusion, hydrophobia, difficulty in swallowing and muscle weakness. He was referred to SGH.
“He is being treated and monitored closely at the hospital. A clinical sample will be sent to the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) for a rabies test,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
Sarawak has recorded 17 rabies cases of which 16 were fatal, since the outbreak was declared on July 1, 2017. The latest death occurred last Jan 18.
Dr Noor Hisham advised the public not to take in dogs with unverified vaccination status.
“Make sure pet dogs are vaccinated against rabies and don’t let them stray or mix with wild or stray animals,” he said.
“If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek treatment at the nearest government clinic or hospital.”
He also reminded dog owners to notify the Veterinary Services Department if their pets fell sick, showed unusual behaviour or died suddenly.
“Public cooperation is vital for rabies control and prevention measures in Sarawak to succeed,” he said.
