44yo man dies of rabies in Sarawak, first human case reported this year

A dog being administered with the anti-rabies vaccine during a vaccination programme in this file photo.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, March 1: Sarawak has recorded one new human rabies case this year, involving a 44-year-old man who died at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) on Feb 25, 2026.

In a statement yesterday, the Sarawak Health Department expressed condolences to the victim’s family and confirmed that this is the first human rabies case reported in Sarawak in 2026.

With the latest case, the cumulative number of human rabies infections reported in Sarawak since the outbreak was declared in July 2017 has risen to 91 cases, with 84 deaths — a fatality rate of 93 per cent.

According to the department, the deceased was a Malaysian man working as a labourer and living alone in Kota Samarahan.

He began showing symptoms on Feb 15, 2026, including difficulty walking, loss of appetite, pain in his right knee, general weakness and dizziness. He was taken to the Sarawak Heart Centre on Feb 16 before being referred on the same day to SGH.

“His condition deteriorated and he required respiratory support on Feb 22. He passed away three days later,” the department said.

Investigations found that the patient had no known history of being bitten by a dog or cat. However, he kept 15 dogs inside his house. One dog had died earlier in February and was buried by a neighbour, while the remaining 14 dogs have been isolated for monitoring.

Further findings revealed that the patient frequently fed stray dogs, a practice now believed to be linked to the infection.

The department also reported that from Jan 1 to Feb 21, 2026, a total of 3,323 animal bite and scratch cases were recorded in Sarawak, averaging 475 cases per week.

Of these, 2,043 cases involved cat bites or scratches, while 1,235 cases were dog bites and 45 involved other animals.

A total of 2,280 cases involved pets, while 1,043 cases involved stray animals.

The department further reminded the public that rabies can be transmitted through bites, scratches and exposure to saliva from infected mammals, especially dogs and cats.

“Anyone who is bitten or scratched is advised to immediately wash the wound or exposed area under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes and seek treatment at the nearest government or private healthcare facility,” it added.

The public is also urged not to feed or touch stray animals with unknown vaccination status and not to handle carcasses of animals that die from unknown causes.

Such cases should be reported to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) or local authorities.

Pet owners are reminded to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies annually and to ensure their animals are not allowed to roam freely.

“Rabies can kill, but it is preventable if Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is given promptly after a bite,” the department stressed. — DayakDaily