Don’t rely on social media posts for rabies updates — Dr Annuar

SIBU: The public is urged to obtain information on rabies from verified sources rather than believing social media postings as this can create unnecessary anxiety and panic.

Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee gave the advice in response to a recent post on social media which claimed that a rabies case had been detected somewhere between Mile 6 and Mile 8 Jalan Oya here.

“Members of the public are not to depend on social media for the news (on rabies). The state authority will deliver daily updates on rabies. Whatever information from Facebook, if there is no real source, don’t believe first.

“The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee will make available the report on rabies at 5pm daily. So, the public are to get their information from the proper source to avoid unnecessary anxiety and panic,” he told reporters.

Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research, was met after officiating at AnNur Mosque’s ‘ Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri’ event here on Saturday night.

He also stressed that it was important for the public to have the correct information about the virus, explaining that a person can only contract rabies if bitten by an infected animal.

The Nangka assemblyman also stressed that immediate medical treatment must be sought should one be bitten by an infected animal.

He said the disease is 99.9 per cent preventable for fresh bites.

“Don’t wait until the onset of rabies symptoms to get medical attention as it is difficult to cure then,” he cautioned, adding that pet owners should get their pets vaccinated.

So far, 20 areas in Sarawak have already been declared as rabies-infected, with 16 in Serian District, two in Tebedu and one in Kuching.