KUCHING, Sept 20 — A total of 278,840 animals have been vaccinated in Sarawak since the state launched its fight against rabies, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said that so far this year, 10,957 animals had been vaccinated across the state.
“Despite these efforts, challenges remain. We continue to record a high number of cases, with 34 reported in Kuching, nine in Bintulu, one in Kapit and one in Kota Samarahan,” he told reporters at the World Rabies Day observance here today.
Dr Sim said laboratory tests conducted on 490 samples detected 45 positive cases, 42 of which involved dogs.
“Alarmingly, nearly half of these cases — 46 per cent — came from owned dogs, while the rest were from strays, including cats. Sarawak also records an average of 380 bite cases weekly,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Sarawak minister for public health, housing and local government, expressed concern over the rising number of rabies cases, stressing that not only dog bites but also cat bites and scratches contribute to infections.
He explained that scratches must be taken seriously as rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, and even a minor scratch can pose a risk if the animal’s paws or claws are contaminated.
“We need to educate the public that when we refer to a ‘dog bite,’ scratches must also be considered. Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an infected dog or cat when it scratches a person,” he said.
According to Dr Sim, rabies continues to pose a serious public health threat in Sarawak, with 85 human cases reported since the outbreak was declared in 2017 and of the total, 78 were fatal.
“This year alone, we have recorded two new fatal cases, underscoring the urgency of the situation,” he said. — Bernama
