Rabies: Sarawak to establish veterinary mobile teams
KUCHING: A Veterinary Mobile Team 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.
In a statement yesterday, he disclosed that only 44,874 dogs had been vaccinated by DVS Sarawak and the Immune Belt Enforcement Team (Ibet) across Sarawak last year which was very much below target of 70 per cent of 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 dogs removal and licensing will be carried out immediately by enforcement teams (DVS, the police and Ibet) together with respective local councils throughout the state to reduce the stray population and vaccination coverage,” he said.
The statement was issued following the conclusion of the two-day Workshop on Plan of Action for Rabies Control and Eradication 2024-2025 yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, was present for the closing ceremony but it was called off after a minor fire broke out at the function room of a hotel where it was held.
Also present were Deputy
Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben, Deputy State Secretary Datu Buckland Bangik, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) director Datu Dr Chai Khin Chung and DVS Sarawak director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
Uggah also said in the statement that amongst other strategies to be adopted in 2024 and 2025 are to strengthen vaccination and surveillance and increasing rabies awareness.
The other strategy is dog population management, namely to achieve zero stray dogs and to ensure all pets are registered (licensed, vaccinated, microchipped and neutered).
He added another strategy is to enforce the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Ordinance 1999 and dog licensing.
“In this regard, I would like to remind the public to take action now to ensure that their dogs are vaccinated with antirabies vaccine and licensed. Dog vaccination is made mandatory under Section 40, VPHO 1999. Any owner or person in charge of a dog who fails to comply is guilty of an offence and may be compounded up to RM1,000.
“Dog owners are required to apply for licence and microchip from their respective councils. Pet owners are advised to neuter their pets in order to prevent unwanted litters.
“Owners who let their dogs roam freely on the streets shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM2,500 under Section 37, VPHO 1999.
“Dog owners must keep their dogs under effective control by confining them within an enclosed area from which it is impossible for them to escape,” he said.
He stressed the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is very concerned about the lives and wellbeing of Sarawakians, and that was why it enforced the current laws to protect Sarawakians.
“I hope all parties and individuals will play constructive roles to eradicate rabies in Sarawak,” he added.