World Health Organisation Graphic on rabies. (File Photo)
Dr Adrian Susin Ambud
KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee will meet today to discuss on the rabies outbreak, following the three cases of rabies infection detected last Friday involving young children from Serian, says its chairman Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah also said the state government had communicated with the Veterinary Services Department in Kuala Lumpur, which had sent officers to help the state counter the rabies outbreak.
“They have promised to give us assistance. We are thankful to the federal government,” he said in a press conference held during a Gawai Dayak visit by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to his house here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian confirmed that no new cases of dog bite were reported as of yesterday.
“There are 34 cases of dog bites when we traced back and all of them we are giving free vaccination. The state government will contribute RM100,000 to buy vaccine for humans, to the Health Department so that they can make it readily available to whoever needs it.”
Dr Sim, however, could not comment on the vaccination for the animals as it was under Uggah’s jurisdiction. On the condition of the three children infected with rabies, Dr Sim said they are currently incubated, adding that their prognosis is not very good.
In order to create awareness of rabies, he said his ministry would come up with a short video to educate the public on what to do when they got bitten by a dog.
“As for Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah’s side, they will also come up with a short video on how to identify dogs with rabies.”
On the joint meeting on rabies, Dr Sim said: “It will involve agencies like the police, local councils, armed forces and the plantation people, besides the Health Ministry and the Veterinary Services Department”.
