Mayor raises alarm over spread of rabies in public places

MIRI: The Miri City Council ( MCC) will step up its effort to remove stray dogs at public places especially around the schools and market places here.

Mayor Adam Yii said it was alarming that rabies had spread to Miri and the city council would spare no effort in containing the spared of the disease

“The MCC has called for urgent internal meeting this afternoon after two areas Piasau Jaya and Lutong Shell areas were declared rabies infected,” he told the media yesterday.

Yii added that MCC would engage contractors to assist in removing stray dogs if necessary and would work closely with other government agencies and various organisations in fighting the spread of rabies.

The mayor pointed out that removal of stray dogs had been a top concern of the council’s public health section.

He disclosed that up to August this year MCC had issued a total of 2,369 licenses, 1,394 for male dogs and remaining licences for bitches.

In addition to that, he said the council as at September 27th this year had captured a 921 stray dogs from various areas in the city.

“MCC has been tackling the stray dog issue all this while and we will redouble our efforts after two areas in the city have now been declared as rabies infested area,” he said.