Rabies virus claims fifth victim
Outbreak reaches Kuching, cases detected at Kampung Entubuh in Tebedu and Batu 5, Jalan Semeba
KUCHING: The fifth rabies victim from Serian died at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) last night.
Tinding Lambang, 52, from Kampung Remun, pas sed away at 10.30pm due to rabies encephalomyelitis.
According to a statement issued on July 18 by the Health Ministry director- general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the man had a history of being bitten by a dog in early May this year.
On July 11, he experienced weak limbs, numbness and backache as well as confusion, and was admitted to SGH for further treatment.
He was confirmed to be the fi fth victim of rabies infection on July 8 following the lab result.
The first four victims who succumbed to the virus were a six-year- old girl and her fouryearold brother from Kampung Paon Sungai Rimo; a seven-yearold girl from Kampung Lebor; and a five-year- old girl from Kampung Ampungan.
Moreover two more areas – Kampung Entubuh in Tebedu and Batu 5, Jalan Semeba here – have been declared as new rabiesinfected areas in the state.
This was announced during a meeting between Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian at Hornbill Skyways hangar yesterday morning.
A statement issued by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) said the declaration had to be done due to positive rabies cases involving dogs in these areas.
“Therefore, the people in those areas are required to keep their pet dogs in their house compounds to avoid them from straying around and risk getting infected,” said the statement.
So far, 20 areas in Sarawak have been declared rabies-infected – 16 in Serian, two in Tebedu and one each in Sri Aman and Kuching.
The other areas that had been declared rabies-infected earlier are Kampung Krait, Kampung Paon Rimu, Kampung Paon Rimu Bakung, Kampung Remun, Kampung Lebor, Kampung Seroban, Kampung Tangga, Kampung Ampungan, Kampung Mentong Berawan, Kampung Mentong Si laga, Kampung Engkabang, Kampung Tampek Sumpas, Kampung Rasau, Siburan Bazaar, Serian Town all in Serian District and Mile 45 Kuching- Sri Aman Road, Kampung Temong Mura ( Tebedu) and Rumah Janta Punggu Mawang (Sri Aman).
A JPBN spokesman told the media that Batu Kitang and Bumbok are not the latest or new rabies-infected areas as they are in fact within the 10km radius from Mile 5 of Jalan Semeba.
The vi l lagers of Kampung Semeba, located within the infected area, were informed of this news during this morning’s church service.
The state Veterinary Services Depa r tment ( JPVS ) l ater conducted vaccination on the animals, especially dogs and cats, at Semeba community hall following the official declaration that Mile 5 of Jalan Semeba being one of the new rabies- infected areas.
The programme commenced at 10.30am, with pet owners queuing up till the outside compound of the hal l to get their dogs vaccinated.
The number of dogs vaccinated there yesterday was 670 – 231 from Kampung Semeba, 87 from Kampung Sudat, 69 from Kampung Tematu, 69 from Kampung Bumbok, 44 from Jalan Stephen Yong, 18 from Batu 5 Jalan Semeba, and 152 from other areas within the 10km radius from ground zero Semeba.
As of yesterday, a total of 13,540 pets comprising dogs (5,900), cats (7,595) and other animals (45) at all rabies-infected areas have been vaccinated.
JPVS said the vaccination programme included surveillance, greater public awareness campaigns and probing suspected cases. The department has so far run 104 awareness campaigns in villages and schools attended by a total of 20,041 people. JPVS appealed for the cooperation of all pet owners whose dogs and cats that had undergone vaccination to keep the animals caged within their compounds, in order to reduce the chance of them getting infected with the virus.
“Please monitor the behaviour of your pets,” it added.
It said if they noticed unusual changes in their pets like becoming aggressive or biting anything that moves, salivating profusely, being afraid of water and light and isolating themselves, the owners should report to the JPVS Operation Room at 082- 612949 or 082- 611607 and 082- 613460 (fax).
Since July 1, 770 cases of dog bites have been reported and 459 people have been receiving the vaccine injection. The state Health Department is now appealing to those bitten by dogs or cats to come forward and get their vaccine injection.
Rabies has taken the lives of four children including two siblings since the outbreak was detected in Serian last month. One more victim is still being warded at the Sarawak General Hospital here.
Bernama quoted Assistant Housing and Public Health Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee as saying in Sibu yesterday that people should not be entertaining and reading too much news that had gone viral on social media because only statements of the JPBN are valid and official when allaying public fear that the rabies outbreak has spread to between KM10 and KM12, Jalan Oya in Sibu. The Nangka assemblyman dismissed this rumour as untrue.
Political secretary to the Chief Minister Tan Kai said JPVS had prepared some 700 vaccines for the operation at Jalan Semeba community hall yesterday but it was not sufficient as people from Bau and Kuching City also brought their dogs there to get them vaccinated.
The SUPP Youth chief said the department had assured him that it would carry out vaccination at the Mile 7 basketball court today from 10am until noon and at 2pm until 4pm.
His party SUPP will mobilise its Sentosa branch members to help in coordination work with JPVS involving venue, traffic flow and registration.
Today’s programme prioritises those residing within the 10km radius of Mile 5 Jalan Semeba, he said. SUPP Public Complaints Bureau chief Wilfred Yap and Pending branch youth secretary Milton Foo accompanied Tan Kai yesterday.
Tan Kai and Yap also met up with state JPVS director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, who assured the SUPP leaders that door-to- door services would be provided to those whose pets had missed out the vaccine injection yesterday. Tan Kai claimed that the vaccine for yesterday’s operation ran out at around 1.30pm. The JPBN Secretariat can be reached at Tingkat 20, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya or at 082- 311189, 082311310 and 082-311416 (fax).