SARAWAK recorded 19,444 animal bite cases as of Nov 22, averaging 414 per week, with six human rabies cases reported this year.
Deputy Premier and Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the number showed a slight increase against 18,564 cases for 2024, averaging 357 cases per week.
“In 2025, most of the animal bites involve cats at 62.3 per cent compared to dogs (36.5 per cent).
“Meanwhile, on the six human rabies cases reported in the state this year, four are in Kuching Division, and Bintulu Division (two) against a total of eight cases reported in 2024,” he said his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.
Dr Sim added that since the outbreak in 2017, Sarawak has recorded a cumulative 89 human rabies cases.
“The Sarawak State Health Department remains committed to controlling human rabies cases through collaboration with relevant agencies across the state,” he said.
On a another note, he said the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak continues to strengthening fire safety culture, carrying out 3,685 awareness programmes involving 815,137 participants this year.
He said that in addition to extensive public education initiatives, enforcement activities remain crucial to ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations throughout Sarawak, serving as a key deterrent to violations.
“For 2025, the department issued 100 compound notices, including 92 for the deactivation of fire alarm panels and eight related to fire hydrant infringements, while legal action was taken against 10 premises six for failing to comply with fire hazard abatement notices and four for not obtaining mandatory fire certificates,” he said.
He added that between Jan 1 and Oct 31, Bomba Sarawak responded to 7,962 emergency calls comprising 1,867 fire-related incidents, 6,059 rescue operations and 33 special service cases, with swift action preserving RM314.5 million worth of assets.
