19 stray dogs culled in Matang sub-district

IPOH: The Veterinary Services Department culled 19 stray dogs in the Matang sub-district after it was declared a rabies infected area on Monday.
Its Director General Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said the department had also carried out census and surveillance within a one-kilometre radius of Kuala Sepetang.
"So far one dog has been vaccinated and an awareness campaign on rabies was conducted door to door on 275 homes of animal owners.
"We have taken samples from five dogs which has been sent to the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh to confirm whether the animals are carrying the disease," he said in a statement TODAY.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir made the declaration following the death of a rabid dog which bit two girls at their home in Tepi Sungai, Kuala Sepetang on July 4.
The dog which belonged to the family died nine days after the incident. On July 15, lab results confirmed the animal had tested positive for rabies.
The condition of both the girls are being monitored and they have since returned to school.
Under the order, no one is allowed to take any dog out of the Matang area, except with the written permission of the Perak Veterinary Services Department.
The order further states that dogs cannot be taken out of the infected zone and owners must keep them under tight control in enclosed areas where they cannot escape.
Dogs found roaming in the outbreak area without supervision can be culled upon the order of the state veterinary services director.
Yesterday, Zambry announced that the state had set up a special task force to tackle the outbreak.
The task force will be headed by State Health, Public Transport, Non Islamic Affairs, National Integration and New Villages committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
Among the members of the task force are Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Chua Tee Ling, the state Veterinary Services Department director, Health director, the Taiping Municipal Council president and Kuala Sepetang Village Security and Development committee chairman.
The committee held its first meeting in the Muallim district yesterday.