Woman latest to die from rabies in Sarawak
Published on: Thursday, December 14, 2023
By: FMT
The Sarawak health department advised the public to take precautionary measures by immediately washing any body part bitten by dogs or other animals for 15 minutes with soap and running water.
PETALING JAYA: A 44-year-old woman died from rabies in Kuching, Sarawak, on Tuesday. She is the 16th person to die from the disease in the Bornean state this year.
Sarawak health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the woman first exhibited symptoms of rabies on Nov 28 and died on Dec 12. Clinical samples confirmed that she had contracted rabies.
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“The woman had six pet cats who freely roamed around and interacted with wild animals. None of her pets had been vaccinated against rabies. One of her cats died two months ago.
“The woman had diabetes and high blood pressure. Although she denied having been bitten by animals in the past, clinical observations found scars from scratches and wounds on her.
“She was also always being licked by her pet cats, but had never sought treatment (for the scratches or wounds) or received rabies vaccination at any healthcare facility,” he said in a statement.
Ooi said the 16 deaths from rabies recorded this year is higher than the 14 reported in 2022.
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In total, 73 cases involving humans have been reported since the outbreak of rabies was declared in July 2017, with 66 ending up dead.
Ooi advised the public to take precautionary measures by immediately washing any body part bitten by dogs or other animals for 15 minutes with soap and running water. Owners must ensure their pets are given the anti-rabies injection.
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He said 11 hospitals in Sarawak offer rabies immunoglobulin jabs for high-risk cases.
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