KUCHING: Twelve samples, including those from eight pet dogs, are the latest to be tested positive for rabies, following the receipt of lab results from Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) in Ipoh yesterday.
Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (DVS) said the eight pet dogs were in Jakar, Sarikei; Mapu Kijabu in Serian; Selalang in Tondong, Bau; Jalan Stephen Yong in Batu Kawah (Kuching); Kampung Bratan in Jalan Puncak Borneo (Kuching); Jalan Min Chung in Batu Kawah (Kuching); Jalan Pisang Barat off Jalan Eastern Park (Kuching) and Country Hill Apartment Blok BGA 1 (Kuching).
The other rabies-positive dogs’ samples were from strays in Taman Desa Wira in Kuching, SSPCA Jalan Penrissen (Kuching), Kampung Paon Gahat (Serian) and Kampung Semaba (Kuching).
In a statement issued via Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), DVS strongly advised dog owners to ensure that their pets receive anti-rabies vaccination if they live in rabies-infected areas.
Failure to do so, it added, would be an office under Section 40 of the Public Health Ordinance 1999, which carries a fine of not more than RM2,500; while the dog found without any proof of vaccination could be culled.
Dog owners in rabies-infected areas are also reminded that it is compulsory for them to confine their dogs in their respective residential compounds, or risk being fined and even jailed for releasing their dogs to roam freely in rabies-infested areas.
Under Section 37(2) and (3) of the Public Health Ordinance 1999, it is an offence to let dogs room freely (in rabies-infested areas), and to take away dogs from rabies-infested areas without getting any written permission from Sarawak Veterinary Authority.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Health Department in the same statement reported 20 new animal bite cases reported yesterday.
Eleven cases were in Kuching, eight in Serian and one in Samarahan. Of the total, 10 cases were by dogs including two by stray dogs, nine by cats (all pet cats) and one by a stray mouse.
A total 10,962 animal bite cases have been reported to Sarawak Health Department since April 1 last year.
Since July last year, 11 positive human rabies cases were reported – 10 victims, including two young siblings from Kampung Paon Rimu in Serian, died.
The latest fatality was a 21-year-old woman from Koran Bari, Serian, who died on May 31 this year.
A total of 31 areas are already gazetted as rabies-infested, comprising 21 in Serian, five in Kuching, three in Samarahan, and one each in Sri Aman and Sarikei.