By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, Sept 17: Ten deaths due to rabies were reported in the State so far this year, bringing the accumulative figure since the outbreak in 2017 to 45 deaths.
According to Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, the figure was the same as reported across the State for the whole of last year.
Because of this, he urged pet owners, particularly those with dogs, to have their pets vaccinated.
“Although no new areas are being declared rabies-infected this year, with the number of deaths reported, rabies is still within our midst.
“It is important that pet owners get their pets vaccinated to help with the government’s efforts to become rabies-free by 2025,” he said today at a rabies vaccination and registration programme at Serian Community Hall.
He added that the department, on its part, will continue with mass vaccination programmes for dogs.
Dr Adrian added rabies is more common among dogs, as can be seen in most cases, compared to cats.
“For this year, we collected 148 samples from both cats and dogs, of which 31 were rabies positive,” he said.
Out of the 31 positive cases, 25 were dogs, and the rest were cats, adding that the cats were infected due to contact with infected stray dogs.
He further said that the department would vaccinate cats within a one-kilometre radius of the affected rabies areas.
He also said that almost 10,000 dogs were vaccinated this year, compared to about 14,000 in the corresponding period last year.
According to him, this could probably be due to most dog owners already having their dogs vaccinated.
On the programme today from 9am to 4pm, he said it includes vaccination and dog licensing for the Serian division.
As of 10.30am, more than 60 dogs were vaccinated, and more than 60 were licenced.
He advised those bitten by dogs to wash the wound under running water for 15 minutes and seek treatment at the nearest health facility. — DayakDaily
