Scare in Kuala Sepetang as man is bitten after kicking leash
IPOH: The rabies scare in Kuala Sepetang flared again when a 60-year-old man was bitten when he accidentally kicked his pet dog’s leash at his home.
Perak Veterinary Services Department director Dr Fuziah Muhayat confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday, and said Chin Kok Wah had been vaccinated while the dog would be quarantined for 14 days.
The dog has so far not shown any clinical signs of rabies.
“We did not take any samples and are still observing the dog. It has been quarantined at the house since Saturday,” she said.
It was reported that two girls, aged 11 and 12, were bitten by their rabid dog at their home in Kuala Sepetang earlier this month.
The dog, which died several days later, was confirmed to have rabies by the Veterinary Services Department.
Last Monday, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir declared the Matang sub-district as a rabies-infected area.
When contacted, Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Chua Yee Ling said the man was bitten on both his hands at about 1pm.
“The dog used to roam freely but has been tied up since Veterinary Services Department personnel did surveillance and vaccination in the area.
“The man accidentally kicked the chain and surprised the dog, and the animal pounced at him.
“The dog looks healthy but was vaccinated due to the rabies case,” she said, referring to the rabid dog that had bitten the two girls.
Chua said the man was brought to the Kuala Sepetang health clinic for treatment and was then sent to the Taiping Hospital to be monitored.
“The family has been advised to continue feeding the dog but also to be careful,” she added.
As of Monday, the Veterinary Services Department has vaccinated 127 dogs and 239 cats in the fishing village. A total of 78 stray dogs have been culled and 12 samples taken and sent to the Veterinary Research Institute for tests.
We did not take any samples and are still observing the dog. It has been quarantined at the house since Saturday.
Dr Fuziah Muhayat