Sabah still free from rabies - Yahya

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin says Sabah is still free from rabies despite the three human cases of rabies reportedly diagnosed in the neighbouring state of Sarawak.

Yahya who is also Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said the state was taking vigilant measures to prevent the entry of live animals, especially dog and cats, into the state.

"I believe these are the first reported cases in East Malaysia and I am relieved to say that Sabah is still free from rabies.

"In this respect, I have instructed the Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry (DOVSAI) to step up monitoring and take vigilant measures to prevent entry of live animals, especially dogs and cats," he said in a statement, here, today.

Therefore, he said, all licences issued by DOVSAI for the import of dogs, cats and other live animals from Sarawak or any infected area were cancelled/void and would be denied entry into Sabah.

He believed that all entry points had been notified to tighten veterinary inspection.

Yahya urged the Health Department to continue its collaboration with DOVSAI to report all cases of individuals bitten by any dog.

Yahya also urged the public to report any suspicious dog behaviour to the nearest DOVSAI office, particularly at the border towns.

-- BERNAMA