BINTULU: Rabies has claimed a life in the district, according to Bintulu Health Officer, Dr. Melvin Chung.
The victim, an Indonesian citizen who worked at a logging factory in the Kemena Industrial Area, was confirmed positive in early January and later died while receiving treatment at Bintulu Hospital.
“The victim was bitten by a stray dog in October last year while feeding the animal at his workplace,” he said.
“Based on data from the Bintulu Veterinary Office, five areas in the district have been declared as hotspots for rabies infection, including the Shin Yang Plywood area in the Kemena Industrial Area, Tun Hussein Onn Road, Bintulu-Kuala Tatau Coast, Sebauh Town and Tatau Town.”
He said the declaration was to enable preventive measures to be taken against the spread of rabies.
He did not deny the possibility that stray dogs in the affected areas may have the rabies virus, pointing out that the incubation period for rabies in humans is three months.
“Clinical symptoms of the infection include fever, headaches, hydrophobia, paralysis, and coma.”
He advised pet owners to get their dogs or cats vaccinated against rabies, as the vaccine injections are provided for free by the Bintulu Veterinary Office.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by lyssavirus, which can infect humans through a bite wound by a rabid animal.
