The Sarawak veterinary services department (JPVS), in a statement, said the state disaster management committee chairman and deputy chief minister Douglas Uggah Embas has declared Pedaan in Telang Usan, Miri and Pekan Tatau, Bintulu as the new areas with rabies outbreaks.

“This move is following a positive case of laboratory tests on two wild dogs caught during active surveillance in the area, (which) is outside the 10km radius of an area that was previously declared as one,” the statement said.

Following the move, the total number of rabies outbreak areas by divisions in the state thus far is 22 in Serian, seven each in Kuching and Miri, Sri Aman and Mukah (6), Sarikei and Bintulu (5), Samarahan (4), Betong (3), Sibu (2) and Kapit and Limbang (1).

The department also advised dog and cat owners to ensure that their pets are vaccinated annually and they are required to report immediately to JPVS if the animal shows signs of being infected with rabies, by calling 082-628248, 082-610023 or 016-2557267.

Signs of rabies in animals include fearfulness, aggression, biting, frothing at the mouth, paralysis, seizures and eventually death.