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KUCHING: A 44-year-old woman is the latest rabies fatality in Sarawak, bringing the number of deaths to 16 from 18 human cases this year.
State health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the woman died here on Tuesday (Dec 12) after experiencing symptoms since Nov 28 and clinical samples confirmed that she had rabies.
He said she had six pet cats which roamed freely and were never vaccinated against rabies.
"One of her cats died two months ago. The woman, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, denied having a history of animal bites but based on clinical observation, she had old scratches and wounds and was constantly licked by her cats.
"However, she never sought treatment or rabies vaccination at a health facility," he said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 14).
Dr Ooi said rabies cases in Sarawak increased to 18 between Jan 1 and Dec 13 this year, compared to 14 in the same period last year.
Of this year's cases, he said five were reported in Sibu, four each in Serian and Kuching, three in Bintulu and two in Samarahan.
The cumulative number of cases now stands at 73 with 66 deaths since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.
In view of the rise in cases, Dr Ooi reminded the public to take preventive steps against rabies.
These include seeking immediate treatment at a post-bite clinic for animal bites or scratches and getting a complete course of anti-rabies vaccination.
The anti-rabies vaccine is available at 130 post-bite clinics at public health facilities and 29 private medical centres in Sarawak.
"Eleven hospitals also provide rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) jabs to high-risk cases," Dr Ooi said.
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