By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 22: Sarawak is planning to expand its oral rabies vaccine (ORV) programme to new areas following the deployment of 2,247 doses to date, alongside injectable vaccinations, as household surveys are set to begin next week in Kuching to assess dog and cat populations and evaluate the effectiveness of both vaccination approaches in the ongoing fight against rabies.
The latest update was shared during an ORV distribution programme at Bintawa Wet Market today, where stakeholders also confirmed that a combined total of 4,507 vaccinations, comprising 2,247 ORV doses and 2,260 injectable (parenteral) vaccines, have been administered over the past two weeks.
Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Sri Dona Drury Wee said the current phase of the ORV programme, which has received approval, is nearing completion but may continue on a weekly basis depending on remaining stock and identified areas.
“Today is actually the last day for the ORV programme with teams now moving around Bintawa and Pending. After this, we will seek further approval from the Veterinary Services Department in Putrajaya to extend ORV coverage out of this area,” she said when met by reporters on site.
She noted that the programme, primarily targeting difficult-to-handle dogs, including strays, aggressive animals, and so-called factory dogs, has been successful and well received by the public.
She also highlighted that a household survey will begin next week across selected areas in Kuching to better understand population dynamics and support future planning, particularly for neutering programmes.
“We need to get a census of the number of dogs and also the number of cats being kept by households, so that we can do proper planning for future neutering programmes,” she said, adding that discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) on State-sponsored neutering initiatives.
Dona stressed that controlling animal populations at the source remains key.
“The source of strays is unwanted puppies and kittens from uncontrolled births. The only way to control birth is through neutering,” she said.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who was also present, thanked the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department, its federal counterpart, SSPCA, and the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) for collaborating on the pioneering initiative.
He stressed the importance of continued vigilance, noting that rabies vaccination is not a one-off effort.
“It is a yearly thing. It’s not just done once. Every year you must have it,” he said, adding that public complacency remains a challenge.
He reiterated that responsibility for rabies control lies with the community as much as with authorities.
“It’s your responsibility. It is a shared responsibility. The number one responsibility is on you as owners,” he said, while also pointing out the importance of neutering to control overpopulation.
Dr Sim also outlined Sarawak’s long-term goal of eliminating rabies in both humans and animals by 2030.
“By 2030, we hope not just no human rabies, but also no dog rabies because uncontrolled spread could affect other animal species as well,” he warned.
He urged the public to take all bites and scratches seriously as transmission can occur even from minor injuries.
“It’s not only bites. Scratches can also transmit rabies. If you get scratches or bites, wash your wounds and see a doctor immediately,” he said, adding that timely vaccination is nearly 100 per cent effective in preventing human fatalities.
Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) epidemiologist Dr Will Leong, who is assisting with field evaluations, said the ongoing household surveys are critical in measuring the success of the vaccination campaign.
“We’re trying to estimate the size of the dog population, both owned and free-roaming, which will help us calculate vaccination coverage,” he said.
He added that the surveys will also assess vaccination rates among owned dogs and gather data on bite incidents to understand the local rabies burden.
“We’re doing two weeks of evaluation, and then qualitative surveys will follow to understand people’s attitudes and experiences with rabies vaccination,” he said.
Dona explained that the surveys will use random sampling methods, with every third household selected to ensure a representative cross-section of the community.
“We go house to house randomly, not every house. The idea is to get a proper cross-section,” she said.
Dr Leong added that selected households will be asked for consent before participating, ensuring ethical data collection and reliability of results.
Dona further noted that data collection will be supported through a digital system used internationally.
“This is all monitored through the WVS app, which has been used in many countries for years,” she said.
As Sarawak strengthens its multi-pronged approach, combining ORV, injectable vaccination, population surveys, and future neutering programmes, authorities say the goal remains clear: achieving sustained rabies control through coordinated community participation and science-based interventions. — DayakDaily
