KUCHING: A two-day mass-vaccination, licensing and microchipping programme will be held here in Miri continuing effort to prevent the spread of rabies.
Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud said the vaccination will take place this weekend (Oct 28-28) at the Nam Leong parking lot in Senadin from 9am to 4pm.
“Under Section 40 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, it is compulsory for dog owner to vaccinate their dog.
“Failure to do so may be lead to a compound of up to RM1,000.
“Therefore, the public is advised to go to the nearest Veterinary Office to get their dog vaccinated,” Dr Adrian told New Sarawak Tribune today (Oct 23).
Earlier this month the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development had said that a total of 91 dogs, seven cats and two other animals were found positive for rabies out of 572 samples tested.
It said the animal rabies was detected in Kuching (51); Padawan (13); Samarahan (8); Bintulu (7); Tebedu (6); Lundu (6); Bau (2); Sibu (2); with Lawas, Marudi, Selangau, Siburan and Simunjan recording one case each. It added that the total area declared as rabies infected since 2017 stood at 73 areas.
The Ministry also said the department, alongside Unit Keselamatan and Penguatkuasaan Sarawak (UKPS) has intensified anti-rabies vaccination programmes throughout the state, with a total of figure of 31,117 dogs vaccinated by DVS and Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) this year as of October, against the targeted 40,000 heads by year end.
According to the State Health Department, the state recorded 15 deaths this year from 17 rabies cases, with cumulative total human rabies cases now standing at 72, with 65 deaths since July 2017.
