Malaysia in rabies shock after almost 20 years

KUCHING: After almost 20 years since the last case of rabies or mad dog infection on humans was recorded in the country, the outbreak of the disease in Sarawak has indeed come as a shock to all Malaysians, especially those in the state.

Early this month, the Health Ministry announced that three cases of rabies infection on humans were detected in Serian district, about 25 km from the border of Indonesia.

Twenty-four days later, five people died from the disease.

Bernama’s investigation found that residents in Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu and Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung in Serian district had already seen drastic changes in the behaviour of stray and domestic dogs in the areas since early May.

The canines were said to have been behaving strangely and aggressively as they would walk aimlessly in circle in the village and bit anything including the villagers, banana and tapioca trees, or even sugarcane, while at the same time, foaming at the mouth.

Several local villagers believed these dogs were sick and resorted to culling the canines to prevent the the situation from getting worst.

“These dogs look exactly like zombies, I hit one and it fell down for two or three minutes, but then it stood up again and began attacking me, we have to hit them at the right spot to kill these animals,” Herman Linus, a mechanic in the village told Bernama.

A resident of Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu, who wanted to be identified only as Jonathan, said the villagers became aware of the ‘strange’ situation somewhere in early May when their pet dogs would bark at night as if there were intruders. - Bernama