More bite in rabies eradication efforts

Sarawak to form veterinary mobile teams to intensify vaccination programme, beef up enforcement

Enforcement on unvaccinated dogs, targeted stray dog removal and licensing will be carried out immediately… to reduce the stray population and increase vaccination coverage.

KUCHING: Veterinary mobile teams will be established as a strategy to control and eradicate rabies in Sarawak, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

As such, he said a total of 133 new posts will be created under the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak to intensify the antirabies vaccination programme throughout Sarawak and beef up enforcement.

He disclosed that only 44,874 dogs had been vaccinated by DVS Sarawak and the Immune Belt Enforcement Team (Ibet) across the state last year – way below target of 70 per cent of the estimated 230,000 dog population in the state.

Because of this, he said the just-concluded Workshop on Plan of Action for Rabies Control and Eradication 2024-2025 proposed the establishment of 14 veterinary mobile teams (VMT) and 12 enforcement teams with enhanced manpower of 133 new personnel.

“(This is) in order to achieve and maintain 70 per cent herd immunity. Enforcement on unvaccinated dogs, targeted stray dog removal and licensing will be carried out immediately by enforcement teams together with respective local councils throughout the state to reduce

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas

the stray population and increase vaccination coverage,” he said in a statement.

The statement was issued following the conclusion of the two-day Workshop on Plan of Action for Rabies Control and Eradication 2024-2025, here yesterday.

Uggah, also Sarawak Disaster Management Commi ee (SDMC) chairman, was present for the closing ceremony.

In the statement, Uggah also said that amongst other strategies to be adopted this year and in 2025 are strengthening vaccination and surveillance, and increasing rabies awareness.

Another strategy is dog population management, namely to achieve zero stray dogs and to ensure all pets are licensed, vaccinated, microchipped and neutered.