KUCHING: A 5-year-old girl from Kampung Ampungan in Serian near here has died from rabies, making her the fourth young fatality of the viral outbreak.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the girl was pronounced dead at 2.05pm today.
In a statement, Hisham said the victim succumbed to rabies encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain) at the Sarawak General Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit near here.
"(However, no) new rabies cases were reported today," he added.
It is learnt that the girl was pronounced dead after a family member consented to the hospital’s withdrawal of her life support. The girl’s family was present during the process.
Hisham also confirmed that a 6-year-old boy under observation for suspected rabies at the Melaka Hospital has tested negative for the virus.
"(He) is in stable condition (but) more examinations will be conducted since the incubation period for rabies can be very long," he added.