By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 3: Winning the war on rabies needs everyone’s co-operation, says Sarawak Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“It does not just involve the councils and the veterinary department, but everybody has to be serious and to play their role and do their part,” he told reporters when met after a press conference at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here to announce the 54th Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health which will be held in Kuching from October 30 to November 1.
He was responding to a reporter asking him to comment on the nine people who were bitten by a dog which later tested positive for rabies. The dog was caught in the vicinity of RH Plaza.
Dr Sim, who is the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government said in order to eradicate rabies, it must be prevented from occurring among dogs via annual vaccination.
He pointed out that no dog is immune to rabies and just because a dog is always kept in an enclosed area, it does not mean that the dog is not at risk of getting infected via bites or fights with other dogs through openings such as fences.
“We are saying that it (rabies prevention) is everyone’s responsibility because the government cannot go to every house and check and wait for everybody to be at home to vaccinate the dogs.
“I urge everyone to cooperate with the veterinary department under the agriculture department. There is a list on their website where are the places to get free vaccination (for pets).”
Dr Sim also reminded the public that if a person is bitten by a dog or even scratched, it would be advisable to get assessed at dog bite clinics via government hospitals where vaccinations will be administered if the risk of rabies infection is deemed high.
He also underlined the importance of getting assessed and vaccinated as the mortality rate from rabies is extremely high, whereas if vaccination is administered after a dog bite, the survival rate is very high.
Dr Sim said he will discuss recent issues arising from rabies cases with the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and its minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
“I will ask councils and authorities to step up measures and what is necessary to prevent dog bites and rabies.
“The best strategy is to let members of the public to be more aware about the diseases and inform what measures are to be taken. It would not be (information) just on locations and where dogs are (found to be) rabies positive,” he said. — DayakDaily
