No human case of rabies in Sibu Division – Dr Annuar
SIBU: There is no case of rabies in human beings reported in Sibu division so far, says Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He explained that the first case of rabies reported in the division involved a dog.
“Sibu division is still free from any case of rabies in human.
“A sample taken from a dog here recently tested positive for rabies virus,” said Dr Annuar, who heads Sibu Rabies Control Team.
The State Disaster Management Committee has on Thursday declared five new areas as rabies infected areas, bringing the total number of gazetted rabies infected areas to 41.
The new rabies infected areas were Jalan Teng Chin Hua, Sibu ; Jalan Kilang, Bintangor Meradong, Sarikei; Jalan Airport Lama, Kapit; Piasau Jaya, Miri; and Lutong Shell, Miri.
In this connection, Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister for Education and Technological Research, stressed the urgency for pet owners to get their dogs vaccinated against the deadly rabies.
He also reminded pet owners to keep their dogs within their house compound especially after vaccination as it takes a month for the vaccine to take effect.
Pet owners are also advised to take advantage of the on-going free mass anti-rabies vaccination programme which started Sept 19 until Nov 2.
This third phase of the programme was aimed at reaching the target of vaccinating 10,000 dogs in Sibu division.
The Nangka assemblyman recalled the fight against rabies in the division actually began in early January this year.
Free anti-rabies vaccination programme and removal of free roaming dogs from the streets were among the measures taken.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), once symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans.
Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories.