S’wak, Indonesia join forces in fight against rabies outbreak

KUCHING: The state government and its Indonesian counterpar t have set up a special committee tasked with controlling and monitoring of the rabies outbreak.

Top officials from both sides met at the Indonesian Consulate here yesterday to discuss and formulate measures to prevent further spread of the virus, which has claimed four young lives from Serian since the first report of the outbreak in June this year.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, this committee is a collaboration between the governments of Sarawak and Kalimantan, specifically created to ease communications related to the rabies outbreak between both sides.

“The special committee is also expected to hold meetings from time to time on rabies- related

The special committee is also expected to hold meetings from time to time on rabies-related matters along the borders of Malaysia (Sarawak) and Indonesia (Kalimantan). Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister

matters along the borders of Malaysia ( Sarawak) and Indonesia ( Kalimantan),” said Uggah, who was accompanied by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian during the meeting.

Other agenda yesterday included the sharing of knowledge and information about rabies, finding solutions and working together in controlling and preventing rabies outbreak, creating cooperation between the security forces of both countries, holding meetings with medical experts on how to prevent further outbreaks, as well as safeguarding the official and unofficial borders to prevent the crossover of rabies-infested animals especially dogs.

It isle arnt that Deputy State Secretary( Rural Transformation) Datu Jaul Samion would head the special taskforce on Sarawak’s side, while Indonesian Consul in Kuching Muhammad Abdullah would lead the taskforce on the republic’s side.

It is reported that in several areas across the West Kalimantan Province of Indonesia – one that shares the border with Sarawak – the rabies infection has claimed 13 lives since July 11.

According to a report on ‘ Harian Rakyat Kalbar’ – a news daily in West Kalimantan – the virus has been spreading rapidly, resulting in 1,006 cases of human infection in the province.