KUCHING: The state government has declared the five villages in Serian District namely Kampung Kerait, Kampung Paon Rimu, Kampung Paun Rimu Bakung, Kampung Remun and Kampung Lebor under Section 37 of Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 as rabies-infected areas by gazette notification.
This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in a press conference after chairing a meeting with State Disaster Management Committee at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here, yesterday.
“I have also issued the Anti-Rabies Vaccination Order so that all household dogs in the infected and surveillance areas within a 10km radius from ground zero must be vaccinated with Anti-Rabies Vaccine.
“Moreover, we are sending our vaccination teams today (yesterday) to carry out the vaccination initially inside the infected zones,” stressed Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
He added, to ensure the success of this operation, the state government seeks for full cooperation of all household dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated as soon as possible so that they can contain and eradicate this disease outbreak in the shortest possible time.
“We are also working closely with Medical Department, Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, police, army, local authority, district office and private clinic veterinarians, Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), local communities and other relevant state and federal agencies to control and eventually eradicate the disease from the state,” he pointed out, adding the state government is providing free vaccination services for dogs in the infected areas.
Uggah also advised the public to take precaution and dog owners to keep their dogs within their compound.
“If any of the family members are bitten by dog, bring them to the hospital immediately (after washing the wound with soap and water) as this is the preventive measure that can prevent mortality,” he said.
Any further inquiry regarding this disease situation, the public can contact the State Veterinary Department at 082-612949 or 082-611607.
