KUCHING, May 29: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has today declared Kampung Tian, Matu in Mukah as a new rabies infected area.
SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the area is located outside the 10- km radius as compared to other areas which were declared as rabies infected areas earlier on.
“SDMC today declared one new area as rabies infected which is Kampung Tian, Matu, Mukah.
“As it is located outside the 10-km radius, the area is the 64th rabies infected area (in Sarawak).
“Other areas which are declared as rabies infected include seven in Kuching, Sri Aman (5), Sibu (2), Miri (6), Sarikei (5), Kapit (1), Bintulu (4), Samarahan (4), Betong (3), Serian (22) and Mukah (5),” Uggah told the media during a press conference at the Old State Legislative Complex here today.
He disclosed that the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak had on May 25 received a case of a five-year-old boy bitten by his pet dog on May 24 at Taman Sanhill Barat, Sibu.
Uggah said the child was tested positive for rabies on May 27 through the Antigen Rapid Rabies Ag Test showing the dog was positive for rabies.
He added the sample for the dog was taken and sent to Sarawak Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory for direct Fluorescent Antibody Technique (FAT).
Based on information from the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, Uggah asserted that Sibu recorded a high percentage of cases bitten by dog, averaging 35 per cent monthly as compared to other areas.
He noted Sarawak has entered the fourth year in its fight against rabies having first recorded its first case in July 2017.
Uggah, who is Deputy Chief Minister, said rabies cases in Sarawak currently remained under control.
He said since January until May 27, 2020, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak has received a total of 1,254 notifications about cases bitten by animals mostly dogs.
He disclosed that 81.9 per cent were from pet while 18.1 per cent were from stray animals.
Uggah, who is Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said most of the cases were from dog bites especially from pet dog due to provocation by pet owners.
Therefore, he urged the public not to be provocative against animals to reduce the risk of being attacked by it.
Likewise, Uggah disclosed that all clinics for treating rabies cases are opened throughout Sarawak.
He urged those who were bitten by animals especially dogs to seek immediate treatment as the chances of recovery is high.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the boy who was bitten by his pet dog on May 24 had been vaccinated. -DayakDaily
