By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 30: Rabies is a death sentence if untreated, and Sarawakians must take the threat seriously by recognising that prevention is a matter of life and death.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom issued this stern warning when addressing the Rabies in Borneo (RIB) 2025 conference at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
“Rabies is something very fatal but preventable. We cannot take it for granted. If we put that fear into people, then they will realise it’s important to help and cooperate with authorities. Once bitten, you must seek immediate treatment, otherwise you will die,” he stressed.
Since the outbreak in 2017, Sarawak has recorded 87 human rabies cases with 80 deaths, including four fatalities this year alone, reflecting a staggering fatality rate that Dr Rundi said underscores a lack of awareness and urgency among the public.
Drawing parallels with Covid-19, he noted how fear of death drove compliance with health protocols.
“Death is something dreadful to think about. If you are bitten by a rabid dog and do not get treatment immediately, you will die. That is the message we must put into people’s heads,” he emphasised.
While the Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) under the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPN) has successfully carried out mass dog vaccination programmes in rural and border areas, Dr Rundi highlighted that most cases today occur in urban centres like Kuching, Miri and Bintulu.
Calling rabies “a global issue that recognises no boundaries”, he urged continued cooperation with Indonesia and Sabah as well as international partners to share strategies and accelerate eradication efforts.
“This gathering is not just a meeting of minds, it is a call for action and solutions. Let us ensure Sarawak, and Borneo as a whole, can one day stand proudly as rabies-free,” he said.
RIB 2025 was officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian on behalf of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The two-day conference, themed “Rabies-Free Borneo: Uniting People, Animals and Communities”, gathered global and local experts to advance strategies for rabies elimination. The event is jointly organised by the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) and Place Borneo Sdn Bhd, with the support of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).
The conference programme features keynotes, plenaries, forums, and paper presentations on public health crisis management, cross-border collaboration, community education, rabies diagnostics, and policy integration.
More than 400 delegates from 12 countries attended the event. Notably, this year’s conference also welcomes a distinguished speaker from the World Health Organisation (WHO). — DayakDaily
