PETRA JAYA: The state government will conduct a massive operation to remove all dogs from the streets due to the alarming rate rabies have been spreading at districts affected by the virus.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the operation would be conducted to stop the movement of carriers of the virus from spreading to other places.
Douglas said the state government was compelled to initiate the operation following the increase in the number of cases involving people with dog bite history in Kuching, of which the figures have surpassed the number of similar cases in Serian, the first district to be affected by the virus.
Until Jan 1, a total of 2,424 cases of people bitten by dogs have been reported in Kuching compared to 2,233 cases in Serian, said Douglas, who is also the state Natural Disaster Management committee chairman.
“What concerns us the most is that there were a number of cases of people who were bitten by dogs.
“All dogs, regardless if the animal is wearing a tag or not, roaming the streets would be captured and would be placed at a temporary shelter for 48 hours to allow owners to claim their pets.
“The location of the temporary shelter would be announced by the state Veterinary Services Department soon.
“I would like to advise all pet owners to keep and lock their dogs and cats at home while we are carrying out this operation,” he said at the committee’s operation room at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here .
State Veterinary Services department acting director Dr Adrian Susin and state Health department director Dr Jamilah Hashim were also present.
Douglas, however, declined to elaborate when asked if the unclaimed dogs placed at the shelter would be culled or otherwise.
He also announced that the state government would expand the anti-rabies buffer zones to Sibu following new cases of dogs infected by the virus reported in Julau.
The buffer zone, he said, was expanded as the new case of dogs detected with the virus was reported outside of the previous buffer zone.
“The frequency of vaccination operations in Sibu will also be increased. The state government together with the police would also conduct roadblocks along the Bintagor and Durin bridges to prevent the movement of dogs and cats from Sarikei into Sibu,” he said.
It was reported that SMK Julau No 1 in Julau was the latest location declared as the 27th rabies-infected area in the Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Dr Adrian said the department has vaccinated a total of 42,233 domestic animals since July last year.
“To date, our team have vaccinated 34,209 dogs, 7,979 cats and 45 other animals. The exercise is still on-going and we will increase the number of operations soon,” he said.