KUCHING, May 23 — Sarawak is working closely with Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia, to curb the spread of rabies through monitoring border control and migration of animals, Food Industries, Commodities and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Stephen Rundie Utom told the state assembly today.
He said it requires close cross-sectoral coordination at the national, regional and global levels to curb the spread of rabies.
“The Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) under the State Security Unit has vaccinated more than 17,000 heads of dogs covering 978 villages along the border areas since its establishment on September 26 last year,” he said.
Dr Rundie said since 2017, 366 rabid dog bites have been recorded with 300 patients surviving due to early treatment.
He said 66 human rabies cases with 59 deaths due to delay or no treatment were reported since the rabies outbreak was declared in the state on July 1, 2017.
“This year alone, we have an increasing number of human rabies for example up to May, 11 cases were reported, with 9 deaths in total,” he said.
Dr Rundie said a total of 232,198 anti-rabies vaccinations have been administered as of May 8 this year, and more vaccination programmes are being planned for the rest of the year.
“However, we still continue to face challenges, as the state Department of Veterinary Services receives an average of 250 animal bite notifications every month,” he said, adding that 42 of these dogs tested positive for rabies.
Dr Rundie said all the positive animal sampling cases this year are still within the previously declared rabies-infected areas.
He said 72 areas in Sarawak have been declared as rabies-infected in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.
Dr Rundie said it is crucial to constantly elevate awareness on rabies prevention, vaccination, and control measures, as well as find effective strategies and solutions to eradicate rabies in Sarawak.
