Ministry: No trespassing into private properties to tranquilise dogs
KUCHING: The anti-rabies operation enforcement team is urged not to trespass into private properties to tranquilise dogs, and for them to do their work according to the standard operating procedure (SOP).
In giving this message at the launch of ‘World Salt Awareness Week’ at a shopping mall in Kota Samarahan here yesterday, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Lee Boon Chye said based on the SOP, the enforcement personnel should not encroach into private premises and conduct no shooting within the residential compounds.
He warned that the rabies epidemic in Sarawak should be taken very seriously as rabies is an infectious viral disease, with an almost 100 per cent fatality rate in humans.
“The federal government will continue to support the Sarawak government’s efforts in controlling the rabies epidemic in Sarawak with the deployment of anti-rabies enforcement teams comprising personnel from Department of Veterinary Service (DVS) Sarawak, local authorities, Ministry of Health, police and security forces.”
According to Dr Lee, dog bite cases are still relatively common in Sarawak with an average of 368 dog bites cases reported each week this year, versus an average of 265 dog bite cases reported each week last year.
He added that about 30 per cent of the dog population had the potential to carry the rabies virus, and every dog bite had the risk of rabies infection to human.
“We hope that the people would continue to support the federal and state governments in controlling the (rabies) epidemic,” he said.
On the part of the Ministry of Health, Dr Lee said they would work hard to prevent further human infection by assisting in providing dog-bite clinics, vaccination and immunisation to the victims of dog bites.
However, he said he would leave the matter to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee, to investigate the allegations about the anti-rabies enforcement team having encroached into private properties to tranquilise dogs.
“If you love your dogs, keep you dogs under control. And also vaccinate your dogs. It’s best to protect the dogs to protect the dogs owners,” said Dr Lee.