KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak has recorded 94 human rabies cases with 87 deaths since July 2017.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the fatality rate stood at nearly 93 per cent, based on data verified with the Sarawak Health Department (JKNS) on Aug 20.
He said 23 dogs and three cats had been confirmed positive for rabies so far this year, according to data from the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) verified on the same date.
“Every bite, nip, or scratch from any animal must be treated as an immediate health emergency,” he said.
He urged the public to vaccinate pets annually and to wash any bite or scratch under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes before seeking treatment at the nearest health clinic.
He said this in a speech read out by Kuching South City Council mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng during the launch of the Stop Rabies 2026: Rabies Education Carnival here today (Aug 22).
The carnival, jointly organised with the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, also honoured the top six finalist school teams in the ‘Rabies Hero Ambassador’ competition, representing seven districts across Sarawak.
Dr Sim thanked Boehringer Ingelheim for bringing its global ‘Stop Rabies’ programme to the state, and MyOHUN, along with lecturers and student volunteers from UNIMAS, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), for supporting school outreach efforts.
It added that the initiative aligns with the state’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) and the global goal of achieving zero human rabies deaths by 2030.
Also present were UNIMAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, MyOHUN President Professor Dr Abdul Rahman Omar, and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Head of Business Segment for Companion Animals, Dr Evonne Lim.
