Three die from rabies in Sarawak
Source : KOSMO
KUCHING: Three people have died from rabies in Sarawak this month, bringing the total number of fatalities to 71 since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.
Dr. Ooi Choo Huck, the director of the State Health Department, announced that the latest victims passed away on January 9, 12, and 20.
The first victim, a 39-year-old woman from Kuching, sought treatment on January 8 after experiencing slurred speech, weakness, and difficulty walking. She was bitten by a stray dog in December but did not receive treatment or rabies vaccination.
The second victim, a 61-year-old man from Sebauh in Bintulu, started feeling weak and had difficulty swallowing water on January 5. He owned pet dogs and cats that were not vaccinated against rabies. Although he was scratched by his pets last year, he did not get the anti-rabies jab.
The third victim, a 42-year-old man from Kuching, was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital on January 16 for hydrophobia and other symptoms. He was bitten and scratched by his pet cats in October but did not seek treatment or get vaccinated against rabies.
Dr. Ooi mentioned that out of the 78 rabies cases in humans since July 2017, 38 were caused by pet dogs, 20 from stray dogs, five from pet cats, and one from a stray cat. The cause of rabies in the remaining 14 cases could not be determined.
He emphasized that humans can get rabies from infected animals and urged the public to seek treatment at the nearest health facility if they are bitten or scratched. Rabies can be prevented with the anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin jab, even after being bitten by a rabid animal.
