‘Fifth rabies patient not in critical condition’

GEORGE TOWN: A 52-year-old man who is the fifth individual infected with rabies or mad dog disease in Sarawak is still unconscious but his condition is not critical.

The Ministry of Health’s Disease Control Division director Dr Chong Chee Kheong said the man, who hails from Kampung Remun, Serian in Sarawak was placed in a special isolation ward at Sarawak General Hospital for intensive monitoring.

“Laboratory tests on July 18 confirmed the man was infected with the rabies virus. He was not admitted to the Intensive Care Unit ( ICU) because his situation was not critical,” he told reporters after the opening of the 5th Smoke-Free Cities Regional Workshop and the Summit Of Smoke-Free Leaders by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Dr Chong said the Health Ministry would continue to monitor the state of health of victims who tested negative for rabies at least for three weeks to six months to ensure they are free of the virus.

“Like the boy in Melaka, who was suffering from a cold, fever, headache and slight symptoms similar to the disease, but tested negative for the virus according to laboratory tests. However, we have to monitor and treat him to see how his condition is from time to time,” he said.

He said that based on previous cases, all victims diagnosed with the rabies virus were only confirmed after two or three months after they were bitten and not immediately. “The period to determine the patient is completely free of the virus is indeed long and that’s why we need to monitor their progress for at least two to three months,” he said. — Bernama