82 rabies cases in Penang, Perlis and Kedah

The number of rabies cases in Penang, Perlis and Kedah has risen from 68 yesterday to 82 as of 2pm Tuesday.

Penang has the highest number of rabies cases with 38 followed by Perlis (29) and Kedah (15).

A Veterinary Services Department (VSD) statement said 2,257 dogs had been culled since the three states were gazetted as rabies infected on Sept 17.

A total of 1,618 dogs were culled in Kedah, 342 in Penang and 297 in Perlis while the number of dogs vaccinated rose from 2,286 Monday to 2,433 Tuesday.

READ: What you need to know about rabies

The VSD encourages owners to confine their dogs to their house compounds and to improve their immunity level.

It also controls the population of stray dogs while continuing to monitor the situation in the three states, especially dog bite cases.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by the Lyssavirus which can infect humans following bites from rabies infected dogs.

It can also infect humans via skin which is exposed to saliva, body fluid or tissue from rabies infected animals.

Those infected with rabies will experience symptoms such as fever, body ache and headache, hydrophobia, paralysis and coma.

The disease can also cause death in humans if not treated immediately.

For queries on rabies call the VSD headquarters at 03-88702041, 03-88702053 and 03-88702062 or any state VSD office.