KUCHING, Oct 19 — A 29-year-old plantation worker in Sebauh, Bintulu died of rabies at the Bintulu Hospital on October 12, according to the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS).
With this latest casualty, the department said the number of human rabies cases reported in Sarawak so far this year stood at five.
“On October 8, the patient began to experience chest pain and was admitted to Bintulu Hospital on October 10. He exhibited hydrophobia, aphasia, hypersalivation and difficulty swallowing while in the hospital ward, and was confirmed dead on October 12,” JKNS said in a statement today.
JKNS said investigations revealed that the patient had been bitten by a stray when he tried to tend to a puppy that had suffered injuries after being bitten by another stray in a farm store area on Sept 17.
It said the patient also handled the carcass of the stray puppy, which died a few days after the bite.
The department expressed regret that the patient did not seek immediate treatment at a health facility for the bite wound.
Between January 1 and October 11 this year, JKNS said a total of 16,295 animal bite cases were reported in Sarawak, with an average of 402 cases per week.
Out of this total, it said 10,021 cases (61.5 per cent) involved cat bites or scratches, followed by 6,078 (37.3 per cent) dog bites, 196 (1.2 per cent) bites from other animals. Additionally, 10,999 cases (67.5 per cent) involved pets while 5,296 (32.5 per cent) involved strays.
“Four out of the five human rabies cases reported in Sarawak this year did not seek treatment after being bitten by dogs or cats at risk of rabies infection,” the department added.
JKNS reminds the public that rabies can be transmitted through bites or scratches, as well as exposure to the saliva of mammals infected with rabies, especially dogs and cats.
It urged anyone bitten or scratched by an animal to immediately wash the wound or body part/mucosal area exposed to animal saliva (including their own pet) with running water and soap for at least 15 minutes, then seek treatment at any government or private health facility.
“Do not handle the carcass of an abandoned animal or your own pet that died with an unknown cause. Report it to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) or local authorities (PBT) for further action.
“Be a responsible pet owner by ensuring that all pet dogs and cats are fully vaccinated against rabies every year, and do not let pets roam unsupervised,” JKNS cautioned.
Stressing that rabies can be fatal, the department noted that the disease is preventable if Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is administered appropriately and immediately after a bite.
As such, it urges the public to play their respective roles to ensure that rabies prevention and control measures are effectively implemented effectively to protect their own lives and those of their loved ones. — The Borneo Post
