Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah speaking to the press in Kuching on Friday (May 12) - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: The Sarawak disaster management committee will meet soon to review its rabies management plan, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The Deputy Premier, who also chairs the committee, said this included the ongoing vaccination programme for dogs.
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"I was informed that the immune belt enforcement team (IBET), the body entrusted to do vaccination along the border area, has done well.
"They have vaccinated almost 70% of the dogs within their area of operations, so we're going to review this," he told reporters during a site visit to the Unifor Complex project here on Friday (May 12).
Uggah said the committee would be briefed by Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, and discuss further steps with state Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi, as the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) comes under his ministry.
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"Local governments and DVS are the main agencies involved in this effort," he added.
Sarawak recorded its ninth rabies fatality this year when a 50-year-old man from Kampung Bumbok here died on Wednesday (May 10).
The man was reported to have been bitten by a stray dog on April 3.
Uggah advised those bitten by dogs or scratched by cats to seek immediate medical treatment and get anti-rabies vaccination.
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"You don't have to assess the seriousness of the scratch or bite. As long as you are bitten or scratched, go straight for treatment, which is free at public hospitals.
"This is important because we noticed that some of the patients only sought treatment after (the illness reached) an advanced stage," he said.
