TANJUNG MALIM: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has instructed the local authorities in the rabies-infected areas of Perak to undertake proper planning to address the situation.
Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said yesterday the local authorities, with the State Veterinary Services Department, had taken the necessary measures to contain the disease.
The mukims of Taiping and Bukit Gantang in the Larut Matang and Selama District were declared rabies-infected last Monday after two people were reported to have been bitten by a rabid dog in Taman Sri Kota Phase 2, Taiping on Dec 31 last year.
“When there is a (rabies) case, the action committee automatically comes under the menteri besar of the state. The seriousness of the case will prompt the ministry to issue directives to the local authorities on what they have to do,” Zuraida told reporters after a visit to the Youth City project site in Taman Bandar here.
However, she said, the local authorities would only undertake enforcement while the catching of suspected rabid dogs came under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry.
In Taiping, the Taiping Municipal Council is working with the Veterinary Services Department to catch stray dogs as part of the anti-rabies
measures.
Council president Datuk Abdul Rahim Md Ariff said they would also act on complaints from the public on stray dogs in their housing estates.
He also said that owners of dogs could contact the Veterinary Services Department to have their pets vaccinated against the disease.
Replying to a question, he said it was too early to say whether the rabies outbreak
would jeopardise tourism in the area.
“The outbreak is in a housing estate and not in the town,” he said. – Bernama
