Rabies: Sarawak, Kalimantan to form special panel
Committee will hold meetings with health specialists on steps to contain the rabies outbreak and guard its borders to prevent dogs from entering Sarawak.
KUCHING: Sarawak and Kalimantan will form a special joint committee on the prevention and control of rabies.
In a statement issued today, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee secretariat said the special committee would hold its meeting at the respective borders of both sides.
State deputy secretary (Rural Transformation) Jaul Samion will represent Sarawak while Consulate Functions consul Muhammad Abdullah will represent the Indonesian Consulate-General in Kuching.
“The committee will also initiate cooperation between their respective staff and seek the cooperation of authorities, such as the army and police.
“It will also hold meetings with health specialists on steps to contain the rabies outbreak and guard its borders to prevent dogs from neighbouring countries entering Sarawak,” the secretariat said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the secretariat said 260 new cases of dog bite were detected in Serian and Sri Aman between July 2 and today (July 21).
“This brings the cumulative number of dog bite cases since April 1 to 624.
“A total of 395 people have come forward to receive vaccination. The Sarawak Health Department is making efforts to contact those who have yet to be vaccinated,” it said.
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The secretariat said 12,635 pets consisting of 4,995 dogs, 7,595 cats and 45 other animals in the affected areas had also been vaccinated.