KUCHING: Sarawak must not fail in its effort to curb rabies as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a target for rabies to be eradicated globally by 2030.
In stating this Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian called for cooperation from the public to help curb rabies, adding laws may also have to be amended to keep it in check.
“We don’t want Sarawak to be known as the state that failed to tackle rabies and we are looking at various initiatives.
“The local councils can amend certain by-laws at the council level while for the state laws, these have to be amended at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“At the moment, dog licensing and microchipping is not yet made compulsory and these are among few of the laws that we have to look at,” he said.
Dr Sim said this when met by reporters at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri Combined Open House held at Dewan Komuniti, Kampung Haji Baki here today (May 7).
Also present at the open house were Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, Kuching South City Council mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng and deputy mayor Hilmy Othman, and Padawan Municipal Council chairman Tan Kai.
As for the number of cases, the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said Sarawak recorded 11 rabies cases as of April with eight deaths while in the year 2022 there were 14 cases with 11 deaths.
“Everyone has to take responsibility and as a pet owner, your responsibility is to vaccinate your dog every year. If all dog owners take responsibility, then there will be fewer dog bites.
“For those who have been bitten, you should go to a dog bite clinic, get assessed and given a vaccine. If not vaccinated and the dog is likely to be positive for rabies, there is a 99 per cent chance one will die.
“In terms of border, we have done our part to prevent new outbreaks and ensuring all dogs in the immune belt are vaccinated,” he added.
Last year, Sarawak set up an immune belt enforcement team (IBET) to control the spread of rabies in the state, particularly from areas along the border with Kalimantan.
