‘Work closely with authorities in fight against rabies’

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee is urging the public to continue working with the authorities in preventing the spread of rabies.

He points out that there is no room for complacency when it comes to this, especially with the latest detection of the virus in a human reported in Kuching.

It is learnt that the number of dogs in this division that had rabies vaccination as at Jan 28 this year, had gone past the 1,500 mark.

“The Batu Kawah rabies case is a stark reminder that nobody is without risk. Be vigilant always because the deadly disease is still out there.

“That is why it is imperative that pet owners get their dogs vaccinated.

“Although the response is picking up where the total number of dogs vaccinated in Sibu Division stood at 1,542 as at Jan 28, it is still far off our target of vaccinating 70 per cent of the dogs,” he said.

Dr Annuar, who heads the rabies control team for this division, urged the public to make good of the mass free anti-rabies vaccination programme going on at Sungai Assan here today, from 9am till 4pm.

The mobile vaccination teams are also running the programme at several longhouses under Zone 1 here today – namely Rumah Johnny from 9am to 10am, Rumah John Lalong (10.30am-11am) and Rumah Asing Sanyut (11.30am12.30pm).

Late, they will proceed to the longhouses in Zone II – Rumah Philip (1.30pm-2.30pm), Rumah Bajai ( 3pm- 4pm) and Rumah Sebastian (4.30pm- 5.30pm).

On this, Dr Annuar who is Nangka assemblyman, advised the longhouse residents to get their dogs vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies.

The mass free anti- rabies vaccination programme covers 29 different locations across this division, and will run till this Feb 28.

The mass vaccination is part of the two-pronged strategy implemented to keep this division rabies- free, while the other involves removal of strays.

For information about the programme’s location, call 0138077964/084- 310808.