35yo Kota Samarahan man bitten in Batu Kawah dies from rabies as disease claims 5th victim in Sarawak this year

The Sarawak government will conduct the 2024 Integrated Rabies Operation in Kuching District from April 29 to May 3.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 15: Sarawak Health Director Dr Veronica Lugah confirmed the tragic passing of a 35-year-old man from Kota Samarahan due to rabies on Aug 12 at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).

This marks the fifth rabies-related death in Sarawak this year.

According to a news report by TVS, the man began experiencing leg paralysis and difficulty urinating on Aug 7 and three days later, he developed symptoms including difficulty breathing and hydrophobia, which led him to seek treatment at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.

Investigations revealed that in mid-June this year, the patient was bitten on the right calf by his brother’s dog in the Batu Kawah area and clinical tests confirmed the presence of the rabies virus.

“After the bite, the patient did not seek any medical treatment.

“The dog had never been vaccinated against rabies and had contact with stray animals. The dog also died a few days after the incident,” she said in a statement today.

Since the rabies outbreak began in July 2017, there have been 80 reported cases of human rabies infection, with 73 deaths.

However, Dr Veronica noted that compared to the same period last year, both the number of infections and deaths have decreased.

Last year, Sarawak recorded 15 cases of rabies infection and 13 deaths during the same period.

Despite this, the Sarawak Health Department emphasised that rabies remains a serious threat in Sarawak, with a high mortality rate.

Dr Veronica urged the public to take extra precautions, care for their pets, and ensure their dogs receive annual rabies vaccinations. — DayakDaily