About half of dog population in Sarawak vaccinated
KUCHING: About half of the 200,000 dogs in Sarawak have been given anti-rabies vaccination, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
He said the recent statement of Deputy Minister of Health Dr Lee Boon Chye on the number of vaccinated dogs in Sarawak was totally inaccurate.
“It is not true that only 1.3 per cent of dogs in Sarawak, which Dr Lee said, have been vaccinated.
“I wish to advise him and other people over there (Peninsular Malaysia) to be careful in their statement; get their facts right so that they wouldn’t cause confusion,” he told reporters after closing a food processing skill course for agropreneurs (bakers) here yesterday.
Uggah, who is chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee, said the Sarawak government’s objective for rabies free areas was to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population.
He said the Sarawak government had mobilised its people, and has recruited 28 additional ground staff while Sabah was expected to come in to help.
“Vaccination is one of our major programmes; to vaccinate as many dogs as we can. We are also calling on all dog owners to vaccinate their dogs for the interest of everyone.
“Our target is to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population. More than will be better,” he said.
Sixteen people have been infected by rabies, of which 15 have died, since the outbreak of the disease in Sarawak on July 1.