Test on latest animal samples rabies free

KUCHING: The latest animal samples sent to the Ipoh Veterinary Research Institute were found to be all negative of rabies virus, said Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said the samples from Serian, Kuching, Sri Aman, Lundu, Tebedu, Lubuk Antu, Batu Lintang, Mongkos and Serikin were sent to the Ipoh Veterinary Research Institute for test recently.
"Our strategy at the moment is to create buffer zones especially along the border areas with West Kalimantan to control the spread of the disease and we are monitoring the animal situation very closely," he told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak Agriculture Institute (IPS) 12th convocation ceremony here today.
He said the Sarawak Veterinary Department (SVD) will continue to collect animal samples especially in towns and villages along the border and send to the Ipoh Veterinary Research Institute to determine the spread of rabies.
"Although we received negative results for those samples we sent for test, we are not satisfied yet because according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) it needs two years for us to ensure that our state is rabies free," added Uggah.
For the record, he said the department has so far vaccinated more than 35,000 dogs, while five people had died of rabies in Sarawak since the outbreak in July this year. — Bernama