KUCHING: Rabies has claimed a 26-year-old man as its 17th victim yesterday at 9.15am at the Sarawak General Hospital.
The victim, Jackson Yap Foh Fong, from Batu Kawa was scratched by his pet dog but did not seek treatment afterwards. His dog died in March this year.
According to his family members, Jackson loved animals and was a kind-hearted person. He brought in the strays and was scratched by one of these. However, he did not tell his family members.
They were unaware of his condition until he fell very ill last week. Jackson was the second eldest of four siblings.
His family members said he worked as an accountant and his ambition was to be a gym instructor or a swimming coach. Jackson lived a very active life.
Family members were seen inconsolable at the hospital morgue and are waiting for a post-mortem before he could be buried.
Meanwhile, Health Director General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed on Thursday that the victim felt weak and had breathing difficulties since last Saturday.
He suffered from symptoms of hydrophobia, confusion, and had difficulties in swallowing.
The first case of rabies was detected in Serian in June 2017 and has spread all over Sarawak except Limbang.
