KUCHING: A 59-year-old man, who is the seventh victim to have contracted rabies, has died at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here yesterday.
The victim from Jalan Batu Kawa-Matang, who was admitted to the hospital since Jan 24, was pronounced dead at 4.44pm.
State Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim confirmed that the victim had died from rabies encephalitis (acute inflammation to the brain).
“The victim was bitten by a dog in November last year.
“He was admitted to the hospital after suffering from neurological disorder on Jan 24,” she said in a statement today.
She added that the sixth victim to have contracted the virus, involving a seven-year-old boy, has been discharged from SGH on Jan 31.
The boy, however, is still in critical condition and dependent of life support machine at his home in Kampung Kuala, Serian near here.
Four children, aged between four and seven, were among those succumbed to the virus since the outbreak was detected in June last year.
The fifth rabies victim, a 52-year-old man from Kampung Remun, also in Serian died on Jul 23 last year.