KUCHING: A total of five rabies-positive cases have been detected in Sarawak as of this month with no fatality so far.
From five of the cases, three of them were detected in Kuching, from March 10 to March 14.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong said the cases were detected at Lorong 2E Jalan Stephen Yong, Lorong 15 Jalan Semaba, Fifth Mile, and Jalan Sebuku, Bau.
“Two of the cases (Jalan Semaba and Jalan Sebuku Bau) are free-roaming cats, while one case in Jalan Stephen Yong is a free-roaming dog, which means the pets are roaming around the street.
“As we can see here, in actual fact, this is the awareness that we hope people will continue to spread it.
“Other than vaccination, when a person gets bitten by a dog, or scratched by a cat, please go to the clinic immediately.
“Don’t wait until it is too late,” he said.
He said this when asked by reporters on the rabies situation in Kuching during the press conference for the upcoming Virtual Earth Hour and Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination, Licensing, Microchipping and Subsidised and Neutering for Dogs programme at MBKS building here today.
In the meantime, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS) veterinary officer Dr Nicholas Jenek said while no death cases due to rabies have been reported so far, a high number of bite cases are still recorded across the state.
“As long as those who got bitten immediately go to the hospital, they are safe.
“Usually, the death cases among humans happened due to the late admission to the hospital.
“Do not delay until the symptom is there.
“Don’t say that the wound is not a big deal, as in when you get bitten, you go and wash it, and after that you don’t need to go to the hospital.
“We want to avoid human death as much as possible.
“Most importantly, whenever we organise mass vaccination for dogs, please go.
“This is for us to protect human lives as well,” he said.
He also urged pet owners to go and neuter their pets, as this is to ensure the population of animals (dogs and cats) is being controlled and monitored.
“If you have pets and don’t want them to reproduce, choose neutering; it’s the responsible choice,” he added.
