KUCHING: Fifteen deaths, 20,000 dog bite cases, and more than half of the 225,000 dog population still not vaccinated against rabies, yet dog owners are still unafraid.
Despite “lackadaisical” attitude of these dog owners to the ongoing anti-rabies vaccination programme, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah is undaunted. He is appealing still.
“Unfortunately lately there is the lackadaisical response from dog owners towards our vaccination programme.
We appeal to them to come forward to get their pets vaccinated before it is too late,” Uggah said after he chaired a state steering committee on the outbreak yesterday.
He also urged owners who had their dogs vaccinated in July 2017 or later to get them revaccinated after a year lapse.
A three-day workshop to be held here starting Jan16 on anti rabies will relook current strategies, either to enhance them or develop new ones in the fight against the outbreak which started in July 2017.
Uggah said all the relevant agencies including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the police, military, Rela and the Sabah and Putrajaya Veterinary Services Departments will participate.
Uggah who is also the State Disaster Management Committee chairman said there was a need to end the outbreak which is now affecting 60 areas statewide except for the Limbang Division.
“The deadly disease is still with us after it was first detected on July 1, 2017 in Kampong Paon Rimo in Serian. Four days later Serian was declared as the state’s first infected area,” he said.
He said the statistics to-date is 15 fatalities and one still comatose.
He added it was a matter of great concern that there had been almost 20,000 cases of dog bite.
On the estimated 225,000 dog population in the state, Uggah said a total of 109,216 had been vaccinated.
“Our target this year is to vaccinate at least 70 percent,” he said.
He stressed that the vaccination operation, which is ongoing, will continue until the state is declared rabies-free.
“We have received very good support from the federal government. This shows that our relation with the federal government is still very good,” he said.
On tests carried out on the dogs, he said out of the samples of 928 tested, 323 had been found positive for the disease.
He said some 14,030 dogs, mostly stray ones, had been removed.
Uggah said the fight against the rabies menace had been very challenging.
“This is due to the state sheer size and its porous borders with Kalimantan Indonesia where the disease is believed to have spread from.
“In addition, there are many dogs including stray ones in plantations deep in the interiors or close to the borders,” he said.
Present at the meeting were the Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Jaul Samion and Nadma Director-General Datuk Mohtar Mohd Abd Rahman.
Others present were the state Police Commissioner Datuk Azman Yusuf, Division 1 Military Commander Major General Datuk Toh Choon Siang, Sarawak Veterinary Services Department Director Dr Adrian Susin and the Sarawak Medical Department Director Dr Jamilah Hashim.
Meanwhile Mohtar said Nadma was considering an integrated operation including targetted removal of stray dogs in all affected areas to eradicate rabies soon.
“We would like to appeal to the people to assist us in this operation. Please get your pets vaccinated and keep them indoor,” he said.
Dr Adrian in his briefing said some 19,286 people who were bitten had been treated.
He said his department had organised 11,240 anti-rabies talks which were attended by 346,000 people statewide.
He said the Putrajaya and Sabah Veterinary Services Department were now helping the state in the fight.
