Compulsory for all dogs to be vaccinated – Uggah

KUCHING: Every dog owner in Sarawak are now required to have their pet (s) injected with the anti-rabies vaccine regardless if they are living outside the five rabies infected divisions namely; Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman and Sarikei.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said prior to Feb 2 this year, the anti-rabies vaccination were only made compulsory for dogs living in rabies infected areas.

“The war on rabies in Sarawak has entered another phase and the committee feels that there is a need to expand the anti-rabies vaccination strategy,” said Uggah after witnessing an anti-rabies vaccination exercise held at MJC, Batu Kawa yesterday.

He also revealed that the instructions to vaccinate all dogs in Sarawak were given by him on Feb 2 after signing the Anti-Rabies Vaccination Order made under section 40(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.

The Sarawak Veterinary Department, he added will spearhead the vaccination programmes which will be held in all major towns as well as the remote areas in Sarawak.

“Regardless if the area is accessible or not accessible by road, we will try to reach out as far as possible especially in areas along the Malaysia-Indonesia border,” said Uggah who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.

A stretch of area called the “immune belt” dividing Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia he added must be protected to further curb the spread of the deadly virus.

This initiative he said will be further deliberated at the steering committee meeting on Monday (Feb 5) to determine and finalise the steps on how to safeguard the immune belt area and prevent the movement of animals between both countries.

“We are also in close contact and have a joint taskforce with the Indonesian authorities on this,” said Uggah.

Touching on the 29 rabies infected areas, Uggah hoped that the spread of the virus would stop in Julau which was the latest area to be gazetted as rabies infected.

“At the moment we pray it will stop and we intend it (rabies virus) to stop there. This is also why it is very critical to vaccinate all dogs throughout Sarawak,” said Uggah.

He also revealed that after one to three years, the anti-vaccine on dogs will no longer be effective and the Sarawak Veterinary Department will be conducting another anti-rabies exercise in Serian sometime in June and July.

By mid-March, the veterinary department is hoping to reach their target of being able to vaccinate all or majority of dogs in Kuching division as well as being able to control the population of strays in all the five infected divisions.

The medical department he added will also be directed to track previous cases of dog bites and keep in touch with their patients to get updates on their progress and wellbeing.

“Rabies will eventually be wiped out from Sarawak as we will not leave any stones unturned. It can be done more effectively if everyone is cooperating on the issue. For our state government, our priority is to save human lives and prevent the spread of the virus,” said Uggah.

Also present at the exercise yesterday were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Sarawak Veterinary Department director Dr Adrian Susin.