MIRI: Miri City Council (MCC) is still waiting for the result of a rabies infection test on a female dog which attacked and bit a man behind a shop in Pujut 7 around 7.30pm on Saturday.
Mayor Adam Yii said the stray dog was captured by the council’s team on Sunday evening after receiving a report on the incident.
“The rabies test normally would take some time and the council is still waiting for official report from the test,” he told the media after chairing a full council meeting at MCC’s meeting room yesterday.
For the time being, Yii is seeking total cooperation from pet owners to keep their pets within their house compounds.
“Please don’t let your pets out and roam around outside the house compound. Although the mad dog disease has not occurred in the city, it is important for us to take precautionary measures for health safety reason.”
On the three puppies which were captured together with the female dog, Yii said Zero Strays Society of Miri had called him on Sunday and offered assistance to put the puppies up for adoption.
Regarding the victim who had been put on quarantine at Miri Hospital, he said the council had yet to receive the latest report on the matter but believed that the hospital had the expertise in dealing with such situation.
He reminded the public to comply with the advice that had been issued by the authorities regarding the rabies disease.
“This mad dog disease is not an air-borne disease as it will only affect the victim via fluids, which is saliva, through open wounds.
“The incubation period for the symptoms of the disease to show up is quite long. The carriers of the disease almost do not show any symptom and this is what we are worried about the most because the carriers can still freely move.”
At the same time, he wanted the people to remain calm and not make any speculation that would only cause unnecessary anxiety.