Rabies outbreak: Dennis reminds constituents to be on the alert
LONG LAMA, Baram: With the recent announcement that confirmed Miri City as the latest rabies outbreak area, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has reminded his constituents to be mindful and watch for signs of the disease among dogs in their areas.
He said being close to Miri, the disease could spread to the two state constituencies of Telang Usan and Mulu in Baram as nothing could stop it from spreading there.
“I believe most of us in this division never expected this outbreak to reach our division and even though the Health Department has been telling us to watch for signs and take precautionary steps, the unexpected has happened.
“Therefore, this is no longer a far-away problem,” Dennis warned when visiting one of the villages in the constituency recently.
“Let us do our part and not let the authorities alone deal with the situation.
“Since the outbreak of the disease, we have been told and made aware of the common signs seen in animals infected by this deadly disease. Therefore, please share the knowledge with your parents or longhouse folk. Don’t take it easy as it could be affecting your own family next, who knows,” he added.
“What worries me most is that longhouse folk up in Ulu Baram have strong bonding and love for dogs and this special animal is very useful to them to secure meat for food since time immemorial.
And most times, all dogs either as pets or strays roam freely in the longhouses.
“This is the most worrying situation as we do not know which one is carrying the deadly disease,” he said.
Thus, he urged health officers and local council personnel to immediately start rabies awareness programmes in all longhouses in Baram, particularly in Telang Usan.
Dennis also called on the people to inform the nearest clinic or government office or to him of dogs that behave strangely.