KUCHING: Sarawak health authorities are keeping a wary eye on the rabies situation in the state, despite latest animal sample tests in Kuching, Lundu and Sri Aman testing negative for the disease.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the authorities will need to observe the situation for a period of three years before the state can declared rabies-free.
"We are not satisfied yet with the current situation despite no new cases (of victims) or animal samples testing positive for the disease.
"Thus, efforts to vaccinate the animals, obtain samples from dogs and raise awareness among the public are still ongoing.
"We need an observation period of at least three years to be declared free from the outbreak," he said.
Douglas, who is also the state disaster management committee chairman, said the effort continues to focus on the established buffer zone in Sarikei, Lubok Antu and near the Kalimantan border.
Sarawak confirmed the outbreak on July 1. The virus has claimed five lives, including four children aged between four to seven, as well as a 52-year-old man.
Meanwhile, the sixth victim, a 7-year-old boy from Kampung Kuala, Gedong in Samarahan, who had been bitten by a dog on July 17, is still admitted at the Sarawak General Hospital.
To date, a total of 35,253 animals had been vaccinated, including 27,377 dogs, 7,831 cats and 45 other animals.
Douglas was speaking to the reporters after the Sarawak Agriculture Institute's 12th convocation ceremony held at the institute at Jalan Semenggok here.
A total of 96 students graduated from the two-year-training programme.
Douglas said Sarawak needs to increase it level of self-sufficiency with regards to beef and lamb supply.
Artificial insemination, he said, may provide the key.
"Currently, the self-sufficiency rate for beef is about 10 per cent and lamb about seven per cent, which is very low.
"We depend much on imports from other countries such as Australia. Thus, the prices (for lamb and beef) in Sarawak are quite high," he said.
Artificial insemination, he said, could also allow the industry to have more scheduled and systematic productions.
The minister suggested that the institute review its syllabus of the training programmes to focus on technical knowledge in agriculture, which can help modernise the whole industry.