Rabies vaccination now compulsory for all dogs, says minister

SIBU: Anti-rabies vaccination of dogs in Sarawak is now made compulsory, says Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

He said this was following his signing of anti-rabies vaccination order under Section 40 (1) Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.

“Today I also signed the antirabies vaccination order under Section 40 (1) Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, which requires that all dogs within the state shall be subjected to antirabies vaccination and annual booster.

“Dog owners must be responsible to ensure their pet is vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine.

“Any owner or person in charge of a dog who fails to comply shall be guilty of an offence up to RM2,500.

“Dogs that are already exposed to rabies which do not carry the proper evidence of vaccination will be put to sleep,” he said in a media statement yesterday.

Dr Rundi said to strengthen preventive measures, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak together with Immune Belt Enforcement Team, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) had intensified the antirabies vaccination programmes throughout Sarawak.

He said the public could get their free dog anti-rabies vaccination at any government veterinary office during regular office hours and mass vaccination programmes, which would be announced from time to time via the official ‘DVS Sarawak’ Facebook account.

“This year, we target to vaccinate up to 50,000 dogs.

“On this day, I declare Kuching Division and Bintulu Division as rabies-infected areas following the detection of animal rabies.

“Twelve dogs tested positive – eight in Kuching, one each in Padawan and Bau, and two from Bintulu, based on the 16 samples collected.

“All dogs tested are freeroaming and unvaccinated. Therefore, I would like to remind the public to take extra precaution, and go to the clinic if bitten by animal without fail.

“According to the Health Department, Sarawak recorded 16 deaths last year from 18 human rabies cases.

“The cumulative number of total human rabies cases now stands at 73, with 66 deaths, since July 2017.”

In this regard, Dr Rundi reminded dog owners not to let their dogs roam freely on the streets as they could be fined up to RM5,000 under Section 37 (3), Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 or up to RM2,500 under Section 37 (4).

The DVS Sarawak rabies hotline is now

016-255 7267.