By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 6: Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian urges pet owners, particularly those with dogs, to vaccinate their pets against rabies, citing an increase in dog bite cases in Sarawak, including Kuching.
Dr Sim, who is also the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, told reporters this following the Asia for Animals (AFA) Sarawak Conference 2023 press conference held today at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.
“When you own a dog, it is your responsibility to get your pet the yearly rabies vaccination.
“The veterinary clinics have been very generous in running all of these rabies vaccination programmes, which will continue to be run in collaboration with local councils, so please play your part in reducing rabies because you never know if your pets have rabies,” he said.
Dr Sim pointed out that Sarawak has formed an immune belt enforcement team (IBET) to combat rabies in the region and to monitor dog movement in border areas.
“One of the IBET’s responsibilities is to vaccinate dogs, as there has been a change in the law that allows these specially trained people to vaccinate dogs instead of only veterinary doctors or veterinary experts.
“And looking ahead, in addition to rabies vaccinations, the veterinary department will continue to educate them (IBET) on African Swine Fever and other infectious diseases so that we can prevent the diseases from spreading,” he added.
Furthermore, Dr Sim revealed that since the rabies outbreak which was first detected in Sarawak in 2017, there have been 48 deaths.
Meanwhile, Department Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS Sarawak) director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud disclosed that 40 random animal samples were collected, with 18 positive rabies cases consisting of 16 dogs and two cats.
Regarding the vaccination programme’s progress, Dr Adrian stated that 514 animals were vaccinated this year, comprising 492 dogs and 22 cats.
“We have offices all over Sarawak, so you can bring your pet dogs to us at any time for a free rabies vaccination for dogs,” he added.
There were six human rabies cases with four deaths in 2022—one each in Sibu, Kanowit, Siburan, and Bintulu.
Sarawak recorded 2,210 bite cases between Jan 1, 2023 and March 5, 2023, with 1,205 cases involving dogs, 985 cases involving cats, and 20 cases involving others.
Among others present at the press conference were Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Drury-Wee, Kuching Hall (DBKU) mayor Datu Junaidi Reduan, and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng. — DayakDaily
