KUCHING: Three people have died from rabies in Sarawak this month, bringing the total number of fatalities to 71 since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.

State Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the latest victims passed away on Jan 9, 12 and 20.

He said the first victim was a 39-year-old woman from Kuching who sought treatment on Jan 8 after experiencing slurred speech, weakness and difficulty walking two days earlier.

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"She was bitten by a stray dog at her housing area in December but did not get treatment or anti-rabies vaccination.

"A clinical sample confirmed that she had rabies," Dr Ooi said in a statement on Friday (Jan 26).

The second victim, a 61-year-old man from Sebauh in Bintulu, began feeling weak and had difficulty swallowing water on Jan 5.

He had pet dogs and cats which roamed freely and were not vaccinated against rabies.

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"He had been scratched by his pets last year but did not get the anti-rabies jab," Dr Ooi said.

He said samples taken by the Veterinary Services Department from two stray dogs in the area tested positive for rabies.

The third victim was a 42-year-old man from Kuching who was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital on Jan 16 for hydrophobia and other symptoms.

He was bitten and scratched on the right elbow by his pet cats in October and also did not seek treatment or get the anti-rabies vaccination.

Dr Ooi said the 71 fatalities to date came from 78 rabies cases in humans since July 2017.

Of the total cases, he said 38 were caused by pet dogs which roamed freely with stray animals, 20 from stray dogs, five from pet cats and one from a stray cat.

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For the remaining 14 cases, he said the cause of rabies could not be determined.

"We wish to remind the public that humans can get rabies from infected animals. From 2017 to epidemiological week three of 2024, a total of 52,969 dog bite cases, 43,345 cat bite cases and 1,490 bites from other animals have been reported.

"On average, 381 animal bite cases were reported in Sarawak weekly from Dec 31 to Jan 20," he said.

He advised the public to seek treatment at the nearest health facility if they are bitten or scratched.

"Rabies can be prevented with the anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin jab, even after being bitten by a rabid animal," Dr Ooi said.