By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 26: The 4th Rabies in Borneo (RIB 2025) Conference will be held from September 30 to October 1, 2025, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), bringing together global and regional experts to accelerate efforts toward a rabies-free Borneo.
According to Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, the two-day conference will gather local and international delegates in a unified effort to eliminate rabies in Borneo.
“This is already our fourth Rabies in Borneo conference, and we continue to emphasise how important and significant it is, not just to raise awareness among the public but also to remind the relevant authorities that we must not give up in our efforts to eliminate rabies.
“We know it is an extremely difficult task. Many countries have yet to succeed in eliminating the disease,” said Dr Rundi during a press conference on RIB 2025 at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) here today.
The rabies conference is co-organised by Place Borneo Sdn Bhd and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak, with support from the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Sarawak, the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).
Based on a press handout, the recent detection of additional animal rabies cases from May 1 to 9, 2025, by the Sarawak Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory further underscores the need for continued vigilance and public cooperation.
As of May 23, 2025, a total of three new rabies cases have been reported in Kuching, Samarahan, and Bintulu, reflecting the continued presence of the disease in key areas of Sarawak.
“Since the start of the outbreak in 2017, authorities have vaccinated 267,883 animals as part of an aggressive prevention strategy.
“During the same period, 4,858 samples were collected and tested, with 1,140 (23 per cent) returning positive results, which is an alarming indicator of the virus’s persistent threat across the region,” stated the press handout.
Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman, revealed that just a few days ago, a 13-year-old boy was bitten by a wild cat and, tragically, succumbed to rabies.
“We are trying to get people to understand the seriousness of the threat posed by rabies, especially from dogs and other carriers.
“Our goal is to make Borneo free from rabies. That is why this conference brings together delegates from Sabah, Kalimantan, and Brunei to share experiences and strategies.
“We are also inviting experts from countries that have successfully eliminated rabies so we can learn from their approaches,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr Rundi pointed out that the rabies virus has now spread to cats, with two out of 21 samples collected this year testing positive.
He stressed that rabies is preventable, but only through swift action, such as immediate wound cleansing and timely hospital treatment for post-exposure vaccination.
He also highlighted the challenge of controlling the stray dog and cat population, especially in rural areas.
Dr Rundi urged local councils to step up enforcement of licensing and vaccination, while calling for public cooperation despite resistance from some animal welfare groups.
As the fight against rabies intensifies, authorities are urging the public to comply with critical safety measures: pet owners must ensure their pets are vaccinated, as failure to do so can incur a RM2,500 fine; unvaccinated, free-roaming dogs will be removed by enforcement teams to curb the spread of the virus; and those who allow their pets to roam freely risk a RM5,000 fine.
For more information on RIB 2025, including participation and inquiries, visit www.rabiesinborneo.com. — DayakDaily
