Three more rabies infected areas declared in Sarawak

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) today declared three more areas, namely Siburan bazaar near here; Kampung Temang Mura, Tebedu and Rumah Janta Punggu Mawang in Sri Aman as rabies infected areas.

Sarawak JPBN secretariat, in a statement, said the decision was made in a coordination meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also chairman of JPBN.

"The coordination meeting was also notified by the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (JPVS) that the latest laboratory report showed there were still positive samples from dogs and cats within the 10-km radius of the outbreak areas in Serian division at Kampung Ampungan, Kampung Mentong Berawan, Kampung Mentong Silaga, Kampung Engkabang, Kampung Tampek Sumpas, Kampung Rasau, Serian town and Mile 45 Jalan Kuching-Sri Aman.

"An integrated operation organised by the JPVS and the state Local Government and Housing Ministry was carried out at the 7th Mile market, 10th Mile market and Siburan, following Siburan bazaar's declaration as a rabies-positive area for dogs," the statement said.

For the record, seven areas, namely Kampung Tangga, Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu, Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung, Kampung Remun, Kampung Lebor, Kampung Krait and Kampung Saroban had earlier been declared rabies outbreak areas.

To date, 9,185 animals have been vaccinated, comprising 2,656 dogs, 6,491 cats and 38 other animals."A total of 146 new dog bite cases have been detected from July 2 to 18, of which 49 cases took place today, bringing the cumulative total to 415 since April 1 till today while a total of 298 people have been vaccinated," the statement said.

The coordination meeting today was also attended by Health Ministry's Zoonotic Sector principal assistant director Dr Vickneshwaran Muthu; non-executive director of Vets Beyond Borders Australia Dr Andrea Britton and the Sarawak Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals.

The rabies outbreak has claimed four lives in the state.

Yesterday Florancesia Edward, five, from Kampung Ampungan, Serian, died after the third victim Alicesa Lorenna Nody, seven, from Kampung Lebor, Gedong died on Thursday.

Two siblings from Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung, Serian, Monica Mazlan, six, and Jackson Mazlan, four, died on July 4.

--BERNAMA