KUCHING: Sarawak Deputy Minister of Public Health, Local Government and Housing Michael Tiang today reminded the public that the state is still not free from rabies since the outbreak started almost six years ago.
He said that the state can hope to break the chain of rabies and contain the spread of the disease only when 70 per cent of the total dog population has been vaccinated.
“Therefore, it is still prevalent in Sarawak even after almost six years, and therefore all dogs should be vaccinated,” he said in a statement.
He said any dog found within a rabies-infected area, including free-roaming licensed dogs, may be destroyed by any person authorised in writing under the state Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999.
Tiang asked dog owners to vaccinate their pets once a year, including puppies aged four months and above.
He also reminded the owners to get a license for their pets from local authorities which is mandatory under by-law 3(1) of the Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-laws 2018.
He added owners who do not license their dogs with the Local Councils can be fined, not exceeding RM5,000 as provided under by-law 3(3).
Tiang also encouraged the owners to get their licensed dog microchipped as stated under by-law 4(4), adding that microchipping, which is optional, is part of a mass vaccination programme organised by the state Department of Veterinary Services and local authorities.
He said 2,104 of the 24,241 licensed dogs in the state have been microchipped.
Tiang added microchipping allows the local authorities to trace the owners when the dogs are found roaming in the street once the state is declared free of the disease.
Since the outbreak in July 2017, 48 persons have died after being bitten by rabies-infected dogs. The deaths included four since January this year and 10 last year.
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