By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, July 18: The State Veterinary Services Department (SVSD) is making continuous effort to carry out mass anti-rabies vaccination on dogs.
Its director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud said such exercise was still very much needed in view of the prevalence of rabies cases.
“For this year, out of the 180 samples that we carried out, 69 are positive which means rabies is still around.
“The two deaths in Sibu recently also speaks for itself that the disease is still spreading, so given such scenario the department will not rest on its laurels, but continue with the anti-rabies vaccination,” Dr Adrian when approached today after he attended a project input event at a hotel here.
With him were Serian Resident Tuah Suni.
Dr Adrian added that the department aims to vaccinate 100 per cent of dog population in the state, which is estimated to be around 20,000.
“So far, about 168,000 dogs have been vaccinated from the estimated number of 20,000.
“And for this year, 9,200 dogs have been vaccinated, he added, while asserted that such exercise be continued to prevent the virus from spreading.
He also said that three persons have been fined of RM1,000 each for breaching Section 37 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, to let their dogs roam freely.
He advised the people to care for their dogs properly.
“To keep rabies at bay, the public, particularly dog owners must work together with the department,” he pointed out.
He also advised people to seek immediate treatment should they be bitten by dogs.
Meanwhile, he said mass anti-rabies vaccinations on dogs will be carried out in Serian division next week.
He said the exercise will be carried out from village to village exercise by the department and other agencies.—DayakDaily
