KUCHING: The rabies outbreak in Serian can be contained, similar to the cases in Perlis, Penang and Kedah two years ago, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
According to him, the approach taken by the state Veterinary Services Department (DVS) in preventing the spread of the virus within the 10km radius from ground zero is highly commendable.
“I believe the department can contain the spread of rabies virus in Serian over a period of time. What we have been doing there is deemed sufficient in preventing the disease from spreading further from ground zero – within the 10km radius from the infected area,” he told thesundaypost here.
Uggah also said DVS Sarawak had been helping owners of dogs and cats to get their pets vaccinated in Serian over the weekend.
“They (DVS) will also be carrying out ‘targeted removal’ of stray dogs across the district (Serian),” he added.
On a related issue, Uggah – also the chairman of State Disaster Relief Committee – said he could not comment on a news report that the son of an army personnel in Melaka is suspected of being infected with the rabies virus after he was bitten by a dog in Serian, where his parents hail from.
Bernama quoted Melaka Heath Department director Datuk Dr Ghazali Osman as saying that the five-year-old Bidayuh boy was rushed to Melaka Hospital on Wednesday after he was suspected of being infected with the rabies virus.
Additionally, Uggah said since Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had given out his special allocation of RM60,000 to the family of two rabies victims in Kampung Paun Rimu Bakung in Serian, the state’s allocation of RM68,000 for the same purpose would now be kept under a special fund slated for building houses for the poor.
He added that cash donations to the victims’ family including the RM30,000 from Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg’s wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tunku Bujang recently, would be entrusted to the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) for the education of the remaining four siblings of the two victims, who died on July 4.
Siblings Monica Mazlan and Jackson Mazlan – aged six and four, respectively – were among the four confirmed rabies victims from Serian. The third victim – Alicesa Loreena Nody, aged seven, from Kampung Lebor – was pronounced dead on Thursday.
The fourth victim – another girl aged five from Kampung Ampungan – is in critical condition at Sarawak General Hospital.