KUCHING: A 61-year-old woman whose rabies infection was previously unreported died on Wednesday, the Health Ministry revealed yesterday.
The woman, from Pending here, was the 19th human case of rabies recorded since an outbreak of the virus was declared in Sarawak in July 2017, Bernama reported.
The woman died while receiving treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital (HUS) after a lab test conducted by the Institute for Medical Research confirmed her rabies infection.
The victim sought treatment at the HUS on June 8 after being bitten on her right thumb by a stray dog on April 29, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement here, on Thursday.
He said the woman was placed in the Contagious Disease Ward of the HUS and administered rabies immunoglobulin (RIG).
Of the 19 human cases of rabies recorded in Sarawak so far, 18 have been fatal. The sole survivor is a 9-year-old child who suffered severe neurological damage and is currently on life support.