KUCHING: Sarawak Disaster Management Committee has declared rabies outbreak in the state as “Level II Disaster”.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas tabled the issue at Thursday’s State Cabinet meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
The Level II Disaster decision was made after 16 people were confirmed with the deadly virus. Of the 16, 15 died and one still in critical condition. To date, except for Limbang, 61 areas have been declared as rabies infected in the state.
In a statement issued yesterday, Uggah, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman, said Level II Disaster calls for managing and controlling rabies outbreak in more than one district, which requires coordination and recourse mobilisation at state- level, and with the assistance of federal agencies.
Uggah said the state police commissioner and the state Fire and Rescue Services Department (Bomba) would be the commander and deputy commander, respectively, to assist in addressing the outbreak.
He further said in the fight against rabies, the committee had decided to use Directive 20 of the Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN).
He said the committee has laid out six methods to combat rabies epidemic more effectively and intensively. These are, putting in place a more effective rabies management; increasing public awareness; controlling the spread of the disease by taking action on stray dogs; improving diagnostic facilities and increase surveillance activities; enforcing licensing and vaccination of dogs; and increasing the number of manpower required to carry out affirmative actions.
Uggah went on to advise pet owners against letting their dogs to roam freely or take them out to rabies outbreak areas without a written permission from the State Veterinary Authority.
A compound of not more than RM5,000 or imprisonment of not more than three months or both according to Section 37 (2) and (3) of the Public Veterinary Health Ordinance 1999 will be used against offenders.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye made a courtesy call on Uggah yesterday.
During the courtesy call, Lee had discussed the proposal on how to control the rabies situation in the state. Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian was also present.
