KUCHING – A total of 15 cases of rabies infection among humans have been reported in Sarawak from Jan 1 to Aug 7 this year, with 13 of them resulting in fatalities.
Sarawak Health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said there was an 87.5% increase during that period compared to the same time last year, when seven cases were reported.
“Since the outbreak was declared in July 2017, there have been a total of 70 rabies cases among humans in Sarawak, resulting in 63 deaths,” he said in a statement today.
According to Dr Ooi, among the overall cases this year, five were reported in the Sibu Division, Serian Division (four), Kuching Division (three), Bintulu Division (two), and one case in the Samarahan Division.
“Out of the 11 cases reported this year, 11 had a history of dog bites, history of cat bites or scratches (two), while two others had no clear history of exposure,” he added.
Dr Ooi said for cases involving dog bites and cat scratches, eight cases or 61.54 per cent did not receive treatment from any healthcare facility after being bitten or scratched by the respective animals.
Following the increase in rabies cases, he urged the public to adopt preventive measures. Furthermore, Post-Bite Clinics have been set up in 64 public healthcare centres and 29 private facilities across the state, along with 11 hospitals offering Rabies Immunoglobulin injections.
He advised individuals who have experienced bites, scratches, or potential exposure to rabies animal saliva to immediately wash the affected area with running water and seek immediate medical treatment at the nearest healthcare facility
According to Dr Ooi, rabies is a neurological illness resulting from the transmission of the rabies virus present in the saliva of infected animals. Humans are susceptible to rabies infection through bites or direct contact with the saliva of these animals.
“Infection can occur through wounds or the body’s mucous membranes. This includes the impact of scratches from domestic or stray cats and can result in fatality if the infection spreads to the brain,” he added. – Bernama
