Kindergartens in rabies-affected areas told be on safeguard

KUCHING: Kindergartens in areas affected by the rabies outbreak should be wary and take protective measures against the spread of the disease, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
She said this was necessary to avoid children from being attacked by animals such as dogs and cats that were infected by the rabies virus.
"There is no closure (of the kindergartens) but they need to be careful and play their role in the disease prevention, especially for those in the affected areas.
"At the moment, we don't know which animal has brought the disease, so just stay away from cats and dogs and most importantly, do not provoke like throwing stones at the animals to avoid from being attacked," she said.
Rohani was speaking to reporters after visiting the third rabies victim in Sarawak, a seven-year-old girl who is being treated and in critical condition at the intensive-care unit of the Sarawak General Hospital, here, today.
For the record, a six-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother from Kampung Paon, Sungai Rimu Bakung, Serian, died from the disease on Tuesday.
Asked about the third victim, she said the family would be giving counselling later on as their (family) focus now was on the girl's condition, adding that the child's mother was also now in confinement.
Rohani said during her visit to the hospital, she also met with a another girl who was being put under observation to ascertain whether she had been infected with rabies. — Bernama