Dr Sim asks Health Ministry to run a thorough study on victims

KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian is asking the Health Ministry to study the first four rabies cases in detail, given that it is the most appropriate authority on the matter.

His statement was made in view of public queries about why the four young victims, who had succumbed to rabies infection, did not receive vaccination. In this regard, Dr Sim said he had no jurisdiction to respond.

“It pains us to lose four innocent lives to rabies; so the Health Ministry should study the case in detail including their hospitalisation records and medical reports,” he told reporters after launching the Padawan International 4x4 Challenge at Bengoh Resettlement Scheme ( BRS) here yesterday, reiterating that it would be more appropriate for the ministry to make a statement on the subject matter.

However, he also believed that the focus now should be for the government to concentrate on preventing any rabies outbreak before the study, which would take time.

The rabies outbreak in Sarawak has claimed five lives so far – a six-year- old girl and her fouryearold brother from Kampung Paon Sungai Rimo; a seven-yearold girl from Kampung Lebor; a five-year- old girl from Kampung Ampungan; and a 52-year-old man from Kampung Remun, who was pronounced dead at 10.30pm last night. All victims are from Serian. Meanwhile, Dr Sim condemned baseless reports about insufficient supply of rabies vaccine amidst the present outbreak. According to him, the government has forked out a lot of money for the procurement of the vaccine. It is learnt that an individual would require four vials of vaccine to be administered separately.

Dr Sim said each vial costs about RM400. He also said the public would not need to pay for vaccination as the government is providing it for free.

In this regard, he reminded the local community to always be alert and refrain from any act that could provoke dogs or other animals to attack and bite them. Moreover, Dr Sim said each vaccine has a shelf life and therefore, the government had to be prudent on procurement.

“At the moment, the supply of rabies vaccine for humans is sufficient to deal with the current situation in Sarawak.

“As such, there is no such story about Sarawak facing vaccine shortage,” he stressed.