Dog owners have been urged to confine their pets for at least two months to prevent them from being infected by the rabies disease, apart from vaccinating the canines.

Kedah Veterinary Services Department director Dr Kamaliah Ghazali said this precautionary measure was to prevent contact with stray dogs, either through bite or saliva which could cause the spread of the virus.

She said two months of confinement period was important as it was believed the virus could easily spread within the period.

"So, we ask dog owners to confine their pets within an enclosed space because once the dogs escape, other infected dogs could bite the canines and later, the owners could be bitten by their own dogs," she told a press conference here on Saturday.

As of Sept 17, Dr Kamaliah said there were six cases of people having been bitten by dogs in Kota Setar and Kubang Pasu.

She said on Sept 15, a person tested positive for dog bite in Tanjung Bendahara, Alor Setar.

She said the department would apply for additional vaccine from Putrajaya as the existing vaccine could only cater to 20 per cent of about 20,000 dogs in the state.

Dr Kamaliah added that so far, 800 rabies vaccination had been carried out in Kota Setar and Kubang Pasu each, from early this year and September.

She also said the department was in the midst of giving free vaccination, following the spread of the disease. Currently, dog owners in the state get their canines vaccinated for RM5 at the state veterinary services department.

Seven districts, namely Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Pendang, Sik and Baling have been gazetted under Section 42 of the Animals Act 1952 (Act 647) and have been categorised as rabies immune belt.