Sarawak Rabies Victims

SARAWAK: It was a sober mood in Kuching at the Sarawa General Hospital  as two of the three young rabies victims died.  “They were diagnosed as brain dead and also the parents decided to withdraw their existence support,” he stated in a statement yesterday.

A six-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother from Kampung Paon, Sungai Rimu in Serian, were pronounced dead at 1.43pm and 1.46pm respectively yesterday, stated Municipality and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.


Dr Sim stated the 3rd victim, a seven-year-old girl from Kampung Lebur, Gedong, continued to be in critical condition. He stated 11 health teams continues to handle situation within the impacted areas in Serian.

By yesterday, 19 villages happen to have been traveled to and 6,094 people checked as the cumulative quantity of dog bite cases detected within the outbreak area since April 1 now is 68.

“The condition Health Department is counseling everybody, especially residents in Serian district, to consider safeguards to prevent getting have contracted rabies.

“Stay from wild animals to lower the chance of getting bitten.If you're bitten by a dog, make certain the wound is washed completely with lots of soapy water immediately and visit the clinic or hospital as quickly as possible for more management,” Dr Sim added.

Meanwhile, veterinary teams are transporting out anti-rabies vaccination on dogs at five villages within the Serian district. They'll also vaccinate every other dogs inside a 10km radius from the villages, that have been declared infected areas through the Sarawak government.

They are Kampung Krait, Kam­pung Paon Rimu, Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung, Kampung Remun and Kampung Lebor.

“We ask for the cooperation of dog owners so we urge them to obtain their dogs vaccinated as quickly as possible to assist contain this outbreak within the least amount of time,” stated Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah. “In the meantime, we're tightening the borders.We're now deploying law enforcement and army to prevent any change in cats or dogs from Kalimantan (Indonesia),” he stated after chairing a condition disaster management committee meeting yesterday.

He added that rabies-infected dogs usually die within three to nine days. Condition health director Dr Jamilah Hashim stated 10 teams 're going property to property to check on for just about any dog-bite victims since April 1.

Not all are considered suspects (for rabies). All of the cases is going to be reviewed by pros who will consider the harshness of the bites, varying from no wound, a scratch for an open wound. They may also ask if the victims were bitten with a household dog or perhaps a stray. Based on these 4 elements, professionals will identify which cases have to be given publish-exposure treatment,” she added.

At Kampung Paon Sungai Rimu Bakung, about 80km came from here, villagers introduced their dogs to become vaccinated.|} {Some dogs which demonstrated indications of rabies were put lower.

For queries about rabies, the general public can call the condition Health Department’s hotline at 082-443 248 or 441 780.