KUCHING: Sarawak is stepping up its rabies control efforts with the rollout of the Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) Deployment Programme, a pilot initiative targeting free-roaming dogs in Kuching.
The programme was launched at Unity Hall Phase 1 and 2, Lorong 12, Jalan RPR Batu Kawa today (April 18), with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg represented by Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, alongside Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) Director, Datuk Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
The initiative marks the culmination of nearly two years of planning, coordination and regulatory approvals involving both local authorities and international partners.
According to Adrian, the ORV proposal was first presented during the Rabies in Borneo Conference 2024 and required approvals from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Putrajaya, including special import permits and extensive engagement with partners such as World Veterinary Services (WVS), Mission Rabies and CEVA.
“These things don’t happen overnight. It took continuous engagement, training and preparation before we could implement this pilot in Kuching,” he said.
The month-long programme integrates oral vaccine distribution with conventional injection-based vaccination, licensing, microchipping, household pet surveys, and qualitative research.
Data collected from the exercise will support future planning and budgeting, while also helping authorities establish a clearer census of the state’s dog and cat population.
From April 11 to 15, a total of 2,181 dogs were vaccinated through both injectable and oral methods across Batu Kawah and Taman Malihah.
This included 933 dogs vaccinated via injection and 1,248 through oral vaccines.
A total of 307 licences were issued and 309 dogs were microchipped during the same period.
The operations involved 20 teams comprising personnel from DVSS, the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), Sarawak Infectious Diseases Centre (SIDC), local councils and international partners.
“In these two areas alone, we estimate about 2,500 dogs. We have already vaccinated over 2,000, which is more than 70 per cent coverage. This is a very positive outcome,” Adrian noted.
He added that achieving high vaccination coverage is key to breaking the chain of virus transmission.
“With sustained efforts like this, we can reduce and eventually eliminate rabies in these areas,” he said.
