Three Sarawakians died of rabies in Jan; all neglected treatment after being bitten, scratched

An anti-rabies operation will be launched in Kuching. Photo credit: Ukas

KUCHING, Jan 26: Three Sarawakians died of rabies in January this year, and the Sarawak Health Department highlighted that all the victims had a history of being bitten and scratched by animals yet failed to seek medical attention or receive anti-rabies vaccinations promptly.

Sarawak Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck disclosed that the first victim involved a 39-year-old woman from Kuching who passed away on Jan 9.

Displaying symptoms such as unclear speech, bodily weakness, and mobility issues on Jan 6, she sought treatment on Jan 8. Subsequent clinical tests confirmed she had contracted rabies.

“The woman had been bitten by a stray dog in her residential area in December 2023 but had not sought treatment or anti-rabies vaccination from any health facilities,” he said in a statement today.

The second victim was a 61-year-old man from Sebauh District in Bintulu who began experiencing bodily weakness and difficulty swallowing water on Jan 5. He received treatment on the same day and subsequently tested positive for rabies.

Dr Ooi revealed that the man owned dogs and cats that freely mingled with other animals, none of which had been vaccinated against rabies.

“The victim had also been scratched by his pets in 2023 but did not seek treatment or vaccination.

“Samples from two stray dogs obtained by the Department of Veterinary Sarawak (DVS) confirmed rabies,” he added.

The third victim, a 42-year-old man from Kuching, exhibited symptoms like stomach ache, mobility difficulties, slurred speech, and hydrophobia on Jan 11.

Referred to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) on Jan 16, clinical samples confirmed rabies infection.

This victim, who owned ten cats that interacted freely with other animals, had been bitten and scratched on the right elbow by his pet cat in October 2023 but had not sought medical attention or received anti-rabies vaccination.

The reported cases bring the cumulative number of human rabies cases in Sarawak since the outbreak declaration in July 2017 to 78, resulting in 71 deaths.

Of these 78 cases, 38 were attributed to domesticated dogs that freely mixed with stray animals, 20 to stray dogs, five to domesticated cats that freely mixed with wild animals, one to a stray cat, and 14 cases remain undetermined. — DayakDaily