Sungai Maong wet market, Kampung Serikin declared as rabies infected areas

The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) today announced another two locations at the Sungai Maong wet market here and Kampung Serikin, Bau as rabies infected areas.

Its secretariat, in a statement here, said the decision was made by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also JPBN chairman, during the rabies outbreak coordination meeting today.

"It brings the total of infected areas declared at 22," said the statement.

In Serian, the infected areas are Kampung Krait, Kampung Paon Rimu, Kampung Paon Rimu Bakung, Kampung Remun, Kampung Lebor, Kampung Saroban, Kampung Tangga, Kampung Ampungan, Kampung Mentong Berawan, Kampung Mentong Silaga, Kampung Engkabang, Kampung Tampek Sumpas, Kampung Rasau, Siburan Bazaar, Bandar Serian and Mile 45, Kuching-Sri Aman.

In Tebedu they are Kampung Entubuh and Kampung Temong Mura, in Sri Aman Rumah Janta Punggu Mawang while in Kuching it involved Mile 5, Jalan Semeba, Kuching.

Meanwhile the secretariat said the Sarawak Health Department had set up four Dog Bite Clinics at the Sarawak General Hospital, Serian Hospital, Sentosa Health Clinic and Sri Aman Health Clinic to provide dog bite case management services to patients living nearby.

"For dog bites that occur outside the four clinics areas are advised to go to the nearest health clinics or hospitals to get treatment while those with a history of dog bites from April 1 until now can go for a check-up at the nearest health facility," it said.

According to the department, cumulatively from July 2 until today a total of 402 new bite cases were detected in Serian, Sri Aman and Kuching divisions.

This brought the cumulative total of dog bites to 879 cases from April 1 until today while 568 people had received vaccinations in the Sarawak General Hospital and Serian Hospital.

The statement said, as of today, 3,604 dogs had been vaccinated in the rabies disease vaccination programme in MiIe 7 Basketbal Field, Kota Sentosa.

"This brings the total number of pets vaccinated so far to 17,844 comprising 10,204 dogs, 7,595 cats and 45 other animals," said the statement.

Meanwhile the secretariat said the Sarawak-Kalimantan joint special committee on the prevention and control of rabies outbreak meeting at the Tebedu District Office in Serian this morning had proposed six matters to address the outbreak, especially in the border areas.

"The proposals are to establish cooperation under the auspices of Sosek Malindo to ensure meetings are held from time to time if required; agree to joint vaccination under the Immune Belt at border areas; intensifying awareness promotions on rabies along the border through bilingual (Malaysia and Indonesia) pamphlets.

"The meeting also decided to establish more effective communications through one channel, the Veterinary Services Department (Sarawak and West Kalimantan) while the Health Department can directly contact the West Kalimantan Health Office; hold joint operations by setting up one SOP between Sarawak and West Kalimantan for rabies operation along the border and disallowing the import and export of animals," said the secretariat.

--BERNAMA