RABIES IN TAIPING
A pet dog which died eight days after biting two children was carrying the dreaded rabies virus. The girls, aged 11 and 12, are being treated at Taiping Hospital. This is the first recorded case of rabies in the peninsula since 2015. ’NO PLANS TO QUARANT
APET dog, which died eight days after biting its owner’s daughter and niece in Kuala Sepetang, Taiping, has tested positive for rabies.
Veterinary Service Department (DVS) director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said yesterday the department had received a report from the owner on July 13 that his dog had bitten the children, aged 11 and 12, early this month.
He said, from the description given by the owner, the dog had exhibited clinical symptoms such as vomiting, having no appetite, fever and cramps, five days after biting the girls.
The owner then took the dog to the nearest private veterinary clinic on July 11, but it died the following day.
“The department has initiated an investigation by visiting the place to get further details. The department collected the carcass and sent it to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) in Ipoh.
“Physical inspection of the carcass showed that there were bite wounds on the dog’s penis. VRI also confirmed that the brain sample taken tested positive for the rabies virus, based on the Fluorescent-Antibody Test and Polymerase Chain Reaction,” Dr Quaza said.
The last time time rabies was detected in the peninsula was in late 2015 in Penang.
He said the Health Ministry had been notified of the situation, adding that the two victims were sent to the Kuala Sepetang Health Centre for dressing and tetanus injections.
They were later admitted to the Taiping Hospital where they are being treated pending confirmation from DVS on whether they should be vaccinated.
Dr Quaza said the dog might have been infected when it was attacked by rabid dogs.
“The dog’s owner said in January, there were a few stray dogs and pet dogs which showed signs of watery eyes, rhinitis and hyper-salivation.
“However, there were no cases of dog bites at that time,” he said, adding that there were about 120 pet dogs and 50 stray dogs in Kuala Sepetang.
He advised the public not to panic as the infection was confined to one area.
“This is an isolated case and has nothing to do with the rabies cases in Sarawak,” he said.
Dr Quaza said DVS had taken measures, including vaccinating pet dogs without clinical symptoms within a 1km radius, putting down dogs with signs of clinical diseases and collecting samples.
The department is also conducting surveillance within a 10km radius of the area, collaborating with the local council and organising public awareness programmes.
Dr Quaza advised pet owners not to release their pets if they had been bitten by other dogs and to thoroughly wash the bite wounds before going to a clinic or hospital for vaccination.
“The public should also report to the local council or the nearest DVS offices should they notice dogs roaming in their area,” he said.
In Serian, Sarawak DVS officers and Sarawak Veterinary Association members have detected another dog suspected of having rabies during the last day of a vaccination campaign in the district.
Sources said the dog had been caught and would be checked.
It was reported yesterday that the team had earlier detected eight dogs and cats believed to be rabid during the first day of the campaign.