KUCHING: Rabies has claimed its fifth victim in Sarawak.
A 52-year-old man, Tinding Lambang, of Kampung Remun died of the disease at 10.43 pm yesterday at the Sarawak General Hospital, Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement here.
“The cause of death was rabies with underlying pulmonary tuberculosis,” he said.
Noor Hisham said Tinding’s death raised to five the number of human deaths from rabies, all in the district of Serian.
“No new cases have been reported so far,” he said.
He said Tinding was bitten by a dog in early May and was treated for weakness in the legs, numbness, back pain and state of confusion. He was admitted to the hospital on 11 July.
The four other people from Serian who died from the disease were children.
Siblings Monica Mazlan, six, and Jackson Mazlan, four, from Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung, Serian, died on July 4 while Alicesa Lorenna Nody, seven, from Kampung Lebor, Gedong died on 13 July.
The fourth victim, Florancesia Edward, five, from Kampung Ampungan, Serian, died on 17 July..
Noor Hisham said the Sarawak government had declared 20 districts in three divisions – Serian, Sri Aman and Kuching – as rabies-infected.
“Control and prevention measures, including detection of animal-bite cases, have been implemented by the Sarawak Health Department and the relevant Division Health Offices,” he said.
