JPVS to conduct rabies vaccination programme at 8 villages in Serian

The Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (JPVS) will be holding a Rabies Disease Vaccination Programme at eight villages in Serian division today.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) secretariat in a statement yesterday said these villages are Kampung Bantang, Kampung Kakeng, Kampung Jenan, Kampung Lanchang, Kampung Labak Tungan, Kampung Riih Daso, Kampung Benat and Kampung Plaman Nyabet.

It also reported that as of 3pm yesterday, 206 dogs at eight villages in Bau district were vaccinated against the disease.

“This brings the total number of vaccinated pets to 30,511 of which 22,869 are dogs, 7,597 cats and 45 other animals.”

The statement also noted that a total of 34,315 active surveillance acts and 733 passive surveillance acts to curb the outbreak of rabies have been carried out by JPVS in Serian, Kuching and Sri Aman divisions.

“A total of 181 samples comprising 163 dog samples, 17 cat samples and one bat sample obtained from Kuching, Sri Aman, Serian, Samarahan, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu and Miri have been sent to the Veterinary Research Institute ( VRI) in Ipoh, Perak to test for rabies virus.

“Thus far, the positive Rabies test samples conducted through the Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) remains at 33 dog samples and six cat samples out of the 157 samples received at VRI,” it said.

Meanwhile, the State Health Department reported a total of 96 cases of new dog bites yesterday of which 73 cases involved pets (55 dogs and 18 cats) while the remaining 23 cases were from strays (16 dogs, six cats and one bat).

These cases were from Kuching Division (74 cases), Serian (18 cases), Samarahan (three cases), and Sri Aman (one case).

This brings the cumulative number of dog bite cases since April 1 until yesterday to 2,298 cases while a total of 922 people have received the anti-rabies vaccination.