Take a leaf from Penang’s book
Miri MP calls on Sarawak to emulate measures taken by Penang in combating outbreak of rabies there two years ago
MIRI: Sarawak should emulate measures of mandatory mass vaccinations, humane capture, quarantine and culling taken by Penang in stopping the spread of rabies in the state two years ago.
Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng told The Borneo Post yesterday the disease has already claimed 12 lives in Sarawak and mass vaccination has not stopped the outbreak in the state but has becoming worrying.
The disease has now spread to three new divisions – Miri, Sibu and Kapit – since the official announcement of the rabies outbreak on July 1 last year after the disease was detected in Serian possibly through cross border infection from Kalimantan and later in Kuching. Only Bintulu, Mukah and Limbang divisions are rabies free at the moment.
“There are of course people who disagree with what they did in Penang but these people must understand there is no other way. Culling using tranquillisers can be done humanly.
“Under their previous chief minister, Lim Guang Eng, the outbreak was stopped with these uncompromising preventive approaches and has not seen a recurrence since even with outbreaks in their neighbouring states still ongoing. Based on their success, I believe the more positive way now for us is to follow suit and exercise extensive humane capture and quarantine of stray dogs.”
Any dog under quarantine that
There are of course people who disagree with what they did in Penang but these people must understand there is no other way. Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng, Miri MP
exhibited symptoms of rabies must be culled humanely through the use of tranquilisers and the healthy dogs could be released after being vaccinated against the virus, he explained.
“It should also be made mandatory that all dog owners are required to vaccinate their pets and keep them within their compounds,” he added.
The anti- rabies cul ling in Penang began on Sep 15, 2015 and ended less than a month later on Oct 9, 2015 after veterinary and health officials reported a lower occurrence of rabies cases.
This was to be achieved by establishing an effective programme to coordinate and facilitate rabies control with government agencies and partner organisations. As a result of the programme, human rabies cases were reduced from eleven per month in 2010 to just one per month the following year.
Following a mass vaccination of dogs, there was another major reduction in 2012 and 2013, bringing the number of reported cases down to only one human case in all of 2013.
The model developed in Bali is now being modified to suit circumstances in other affected parts of Indonesia to progressively control and eliminate the virus from the entire country.
Based on the success in Bali, Dr Lee advocates that local authorities should be considering state-wide vaccinations in both Sarawak and Sabah to halt the spread of the current outbreak of rabies.
Yesterday, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) declared five new areas – Jalan Teng Chin Hua in Sibu; JalanKilang ( Bintangor) Meradong ( Sarikei); Jalan Airport Lama ( Kapit); Piasau Jaya ( Miri) and Lutong Shell ( Miri) – as rabies-infected.
“At the rate it is spreading. I strongly recommend we do preventative vaccinations in Sabah as Dog rabies vaccination is stronger as a prevention method,” she said .
Dr Lee outlined seven strategies for the disaster management committee to carry out to control and keep rabies outbreak in check.
“One, state-wide mass dog vaccinations for Sarawak. Two, state-wide vaccinations in Sabah. Three, vaccinate strays. Four, free vaccines for people at the border with Indonesia or any incentive to promote vaccinations of dogs coming in from Indonesia.
“Five, education for people to wash wounds and get treatment. Six, encourage people to report dog bites so authorities may investigate and find the dangerous dog. Seven, revaccinated dogs in infected areas including strays. And finally, pick up any dogs that show symptoms of rabies,” Dr Lee detailed.
When told that the Sarawak government had already held regular educational activities with help from local NGO’s, Natasha stressed that, “Education is never ending. There is a need to continue aggressively at outbreak areas.”
And to get more participants from the Veterinary community, Dr Lee also suggested some incentives for the doctors who participated.
“Vets who get involved either by helping vaccination campaigns or doing Trap, Neuter, Release ( TNR) should be able to get CPD points which are required to renew their license every year,” she suggested.
With over 14 years of experience in animal welfare, Dr Lee who holds an MSc in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law from the University of Edinburgh, and has a proven track record as a member of Global Veterinary Community.
She has also managed several companion animal projects across Asia for World Animal Protection, including large-scale dog population and rabies control in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Also responding to this latest spread of rabies in Sarawak, was deputy chief minister and SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Embas who said in a press statement yesterday that he is calling for a full committee meeting next Tuesday to reassess the polices adopted in fighting the disease.
The meeting will also review the steps taken so far and explore new measures to curb the spread of the rabies virus.