Uggah (centre) together with Dr Sim (third right) witnessing Adrian (left) injecting the anti-rabies vaccine to a dog named ‘Gendut’ at MJC, Batu Kawa. Photo by Kong Jun Liung

KUCHING: All dog owners in Sarawak are now required to have their pets injected with the anti-rabies vaccine even if they are living outside the five rabies-declared divisions of Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman and Sarikei.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said prior to Feb 2 this year, the anti-rabies vaccination were only made compulsory for dogs living in rabies-infected areas.

“The war on rabies in Sarawak have entered another phase and the committee feels that there is a need to expand the anti-rabies vaccination strategy,” said Uggah after witnessing an anti-rabies vaccine exercise held at MJC, Batu Kawa today.

He also revealed that the instructions to vaccinate all dogs in Sarawak were given by him on Feb 2 after signing the Anti-Rabies Vaccination Order made under section 40(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.

Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, added that the Sarawak Veterinary Department will spearhead the vaccination programmes, which will be held in all major towns as well as the remote areas in Sarawak.

“Regardless whether the area is accessible or non-accessible by road, we will try to reach out as far as possible especially in areas along the Malaysia-Indonesia border,” he said, noting the importance to protect a stretch of area called the “immune belt” dividing Sarawak and Kalimantan to further curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Touching on the 29 rabies-infected areas, Uggah hoped that the spread of the virus will stop in Julau, which was the latest area to be gazetted as rabies-infected.

“At the moment we pray it will stop and we intend it (rabies virus) to stop there. This is also why it is very critical to vaccinate all dogs throughout Sarawak,” he said.

Also present at the exercise  were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Sarawak Veterinary Department director Dr Adrian Susin.