Chee admitted that his business has been greatly affected after Sungai Maong Wet Market was declared as one of the new rabies-infected areas.
Bong had to close his stall early as there were no customers due to Sungai Maong Wet Market being declared as one of the new rabies-infected areas.
State Health Department officers distributing rabies prevention flyers to the public at Sungai Maong Wet Market. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Since the rabies outbreak came to light, it is alleged that many dogs and cats have been discarded at Sungai Maong Wet Market even before it was declared a rabies-infected area.
Hawkers who claimed to have seen this happen said dogs and cats were tossed in the area almost on a daily basis.
“Previously, we often saw people bringing puppies or kittens in a box and disposing them here but nevertheless, there would always be a kind Samaritan who would adopt them.
“But since the rabies outbreak, I saw people dumping adult dogs especially mangy dogs which caused more stray dogs to wander around here,” said a hawker who only wanted to be known as Bong when met yesterday.
Chee, another hawker, opined that Sungai Maong Wet Market had always been a dumping ground for dogs and cats.
According to him, such act has become a norm for hawkers at the wet market but since the outbreak of rabies began, it has now become worrisome.
“There were many dogs here, maybe in the tens due to people dumping their dogs here but not anymore because many have been caught by Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) recently,” he said.
With Sungai Maong Wet Market declared one of the 22 rabies-infected areas on Tuesday by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), both hawkers expressed their frustration that their business and those of other hawkers had been affected.
Chee, who has been operating there for more than 10 years, said his business yesterday was greatly affected as only a few customers came to purchase vegetables from his stall compared to before.
“When word got out that there is rabies here, this area immediately became deserted…I opened my stall from 6am today (yesterday) but there are very few customers, maybe because everyone’s afraid.”
Bong shared the sentiment, stating that he has not earned a dime from his stall yesterday.
“I can’t even sell my vegetables…not one customer came to the market because everyone’s afraid since this place has been tagged rabies-infected,” he said, adding that he had to close stall at 11am after starting out at 4am.
The Sungai Maong Wet Market was indeed fairly deserted yesterday, save for the hawkers operating at the market and a few members of the public who came to survey if there was any Rabies Disease Vaccination Programme held there.
A lone stray dog was also spotted scurrying away and hiding from people, perhaps feeling traumatised after witnessing its fellow canine friends being hauled away by DBKU the day before.
On the other hand, the Malaysian Army are intensifying surveillance in the border town of Serikin, which was also declared a rabies-infected area by SDMC on Tuesday.
In a statement to The Borneo Post yesterday, an army spokesperson said the surveillance was to ensure no animals are brought in or out of the border through the army control posts.
“Patrol activities are also enhanced at illegal entry points (jalan tikus) connecting Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure there are no smuggling activities, illegal immigrants or animals in the area.”
Meanwhile, SDMC said it had decided that a buffer zone be established between Sarikei and Sri Aman to curb the transmission of rabies in other areas.
“At the buffer zone, the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (JPVS) will be carrying out surveillance and taking samples from dogs for lab tests in all urban areas to determine their status.
“The local councils will also take action to ensure that no stray dogs are found wandering around areas under their jurisdiction,” it said in a statement yesterday.
It also noted that 300 dogs had been vaccinated under the Rabies Disease Vaccination Programme at the premises of Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) in Kota Sentosa yesterday.
“This brings the total number of vaccinated pets to 18,144, comprising 10,504 dogs, 7,595 cats and 45 other animals.”
It added that currently, rabies vaccines for animals are sufficient and JPVS will be carrying out large scale vaccination operations, for which the date, time and venue will be disseminated through the media from time to time.
The State Health Department also reported that a total of 490 new dog bite cases which occurred between July 2 and yesterday (July 26) were detected, of which 31 cases in Serian division and 57 in Kuching division were reported yesterday.
“This brings the cumulative number of dog bite cases since April 1 until today (yesterday) to 963 cases,” it reported, adding that based on data collected at the Dog Bite Clinic in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and Serian Hospital, a total of 583 people had been vaccinated.