SIBU, June 27: A dog catcher and lorry driver with the SMC dog-catching team were bitten by dogs at Kampung Sentosa, a rabies occurring area today.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting revealed one of the men was bitten on his ankle and the second on his hand.
The duo was attacked while catching stray dogs in Kampung Sentosa at around 10am.
“They were rushed to Sibu Hospital for treatment. The one who was bitten on his ankle has to be admitted for further treatment while the other has been discharged,” Ting disclosed, adding the council is searching for the dogs involved in the incident.
He described the incident as “very tragic” as the dogs’ owner had failed to exercise his responsibility by letting them roam in the street instead of keeping them indoors or within their compounds.
“If they let their animals out, they (dogs) might come into contact with others which have rabies. When the dogs come home, their kids might play with them and that’s it,” he added.
Ting opined dog owners should enforce a Movement Control Order (MCO) on their animals like what was implemented on the public to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Ting revealed SMC would hold a meeting on June 30 to decide how best to address the issue of rabies issue in the town.
On June 13, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) had identified 10 rabies occurring areas in this town: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Lorong Permai Timur, Kampung Bahagia Jaya Teku, Sibujaya, Mile 1/2 Jalan Oya, Jalan Hua Khiew, Ulu Sungai Merah, Taman Sanhill Barat, Jalan Oya Lama and Jalan Sentosa.
On June 23, it was confirmed that a 62-year-old man died from rabies at Sibu Hospital. He had been bitten on his right calf by a dog belonging to his brother on May 12 in Kampung Sentosa.
This marked the second rabies death in the state so far this year. The first rabies case this year was a five-year old girl who died in Sibu on March 26. — DayakDaily
