KUCHING: Rabies outbreak in the state, which was declared on July 1, 2017, has entered its third year with animal bite cases, especially from dogs and cats, averaging from 40 to 60 cases a day.
This rate is considered high. In fact, the cases are not decreasing despite the mitigating efforts.
As of Sept 30, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) reported that a total 138 (32.8 per cent) samples out of 420 dogs and cats tested were found rabies-positive.
In fact, this year alone five confirmed cases of rabies were recorded among humans. The last case was on Aug 21 involving a 64-year-old man from a longhouse in Mukah. The patient was bitten by a dog taken from his brother in Kanowit. He died on Aug 19 while under the care of a specialist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Bintulu Hospital.
Health Ministry (MoH) director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement issued yesterday revealed that since July 1, 2017 until last Thursday, the total number of rabies cases in humans is 21.
“All of the victims died except for a nine-year-old who is still struggling with severe neurological
complications due to rabies
infection,” he said.
He also mentioned that almost all divisions in the state have reported on rabies-positive dogs and cats except Limbang which is still rabies-free. Dr Noor Hisham further stated that bite cases can be avoided if the animals are well managed.
He advised the general public, especially parents, to educate and monitor their children in ensuring a high level of personal hygiene, especially proper hand-washing after interacting with animals.
“The general public are strongly advised against adopting or raising a dog whose health status is unknown. This is because five out of the 21 rabies cases have similar record of being bitten by dogs taken from other individuals with unknown rabies vaccination status,” he said.
