Dr Sim: Rabies outbreak yet to be eradicated in the state

suppadmin | October 2, 2017

Members of the public are advised against letting their guard down on rabies as the virus outbreak has yet to be eradicated in the state.

Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian called to the public to help fight the outbreak of rabies so that the state will be rabies free. He said although there had been no new rabies case reported, there must be no new case until 2020.

Dr. Sim said this while officiating at the ‘World Rabies Day Community Empowerment Initiative’ at Pullman Kuching here yesterday.

According to him, a total of about 60,000 people every year, with more than 95 per cent of cases originating from infected dog bites. Sarawak had been rabies-free until end of June this year, when three cases of rabies were notified by the state Health Department on June 30.

Five deaths have been reported and 24 localities in three divisions (Serian, Kuching and Sri Aman) have been declared rabies-infected areas in Sarawak and he said there is a need for everyone to know about the disease.