Three positive rabies cases recently detected in Kuching, one involving puppy

A pet owner bringing his dog for rabies vaccination. The programme was held as part of the City Cleanliness Month at MBKS Community Hall on July 1, 2023.

KUCHING, Nov 19: Three positive rabies cases were detected in Kuching this week, involving a stray dog and two pet dogs, one of which is a puppy.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng stated that one case resulted from a stray dog bite at Everbright Estate, Jalan Batu Kawa.

“Another case involved a pet dog located at Taman BDC. The people noticed that the dog appeared to be showing symptoms of rabies, so they decided to have the dog undergo diagnostics.

“There was also a puppy that had an owner but had not yet been vaccinated. After being born, the puppy passed away as soon as it began to move. The puppy was sent to be diagnosed, and rabies symptoms were discovered,” Wee said during his ShallWeeTalk livestream yesterday (Nov 18).

The mayor said that the puppy was initially discovered in close proximity to a shopping mall.

“So sometimes when you see puppies on the road, let the professionals be the one handling them. Don’t let your children touch or hold the puppies when they see them as well. This also applies to cats. We hope that we can avoid it (rabies).

“And to pet owners, you should try your best to keep your pets at home and don’t let them come out, as they may also be affected by the situation.”

Wee continued: “So I’m hoping that everyone can work together to reduce the number of rabies cases. We will, of course, continue to do our jobs.

“We also hope that the relevant authorities will be more strict in dealing with this. Because there appears to be cases every week. And we hope that this will not continue to expand. If so, I think there is a need for a department to monitor the situation.

“Of course, I think this requires a large number of people, like our SDMC (State Disaster Management Committee). When we are vaccinating, they can legislate, and the best departments can be put together to fight against the rabies pandemic.”

Wee stated that he will consult with various ministers to see what their thoughts are on the matter.

He further emphasised the importance of pet owners prioritising the safety and well-being of their pets, as well as their family members, by ensuring that the pets receive annual anti-rabies vaccinations. — DayakDaily