HISTORY OF RABIES CASES IN MALAYSIA

1924:

Records of humans affected by rabies are kept. Cases found to be most in states near the Thai border where rabies is highly endemic

1954:

The National Rabies Control Programme is a success when Malaya is declared rabies-free in April. However, small outbreaks of rabies in animal and humans continue sporadically in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor.

1955:

First immune belt programme is introduced with the vaccination and culling of dogs in areas spanning a 50km to 80km radius from the Thai border in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and northern Perak. »From then, many states in Malaysia are declared rabies-free after the immune belt programme is introduced.

1993:

Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap in Kedah are gazetted as rabies-infected areas.

1997:

Three deaths are recorded out of seven cases in Kedah.

1998:

A 3-year-old girl in Kedah, who is bitten by a stray dog, dies due to rabies. No deaths occur for about 20 years.

2012:

World Organisation for the Animal Health declares Malaysia rabies-free, with the last case recorded in 1999.

2015:

Virus resurfaces in July, with an outbreak in Perlis, Kedah and Penang.

2015:

First rabies case in 15 years is detected in Kaki Bukit, Perlis followed by cases in Pokok Sena and Tanjung Bendahara, Alor Star, Kedah and Kuala Sungai Pinang in Penang.

» In August, Penang, Kedah and Perlis are declared rabies-infected hot spots with a high number of dogs infected.

2017:

Four rabies deaths occur in a span of a month involving three children aged below 10 and a 52-year-old man in Serian, Sarawak.

2018:

30 areas in Serian, Sri Aman, Kuching and Sarikei, Sarawak are declared rabies-infected areas.

» Death toll climbs to nine in May. By August, more than 72,000 dogs are vaccinated in Sarawak.

» On Aug 26, Sabah government begins ban on import of cats and dogs into state. Any of these animals found within a 30km radius of the Kalabakan-North Kalimantan and Nabawan/Pensiangan-Sarawak borders will be vaccinated.