LABORATORY tests confirmed Sarawak’s fourth case of rabies – a girl from Kg Ampungan, Serian, the Sarawak Health Department (SHD) said in a statement today.

She was warded at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in Kuching last Saturday after showing symptoms of the virus. 

Her mother, who recently gave birth, is observing post-natal confinement, The Borneo Post reported.

Another girl, 7, infected with rabies, from Kg Lebur, Gedong, Simunjan district has been in SGH’s intensive care unit for over a week.

She was first admitted to the Serian Hospital on June 23 after showing rabies symptoms. 

Last Tuesday, a pair of rabies-infected siblings in Sarawak died within minutes of each other in SGH.

The girl, 6, and her brother, 4, were from Kampung Paon, Sungai Rimu, about 70km from Kuching, in the Serian district.

Children are most vulnerable to the disease.

The Sarawak government declared five villages those areas rabies-affected on Tuesday.

A total of 204 people were bitten by dogs in the affected area since April 1, SHD said. Of that figure, 154 have been vaccinated. SHD said it was still seeking out the rest of the bite victims. 

A total of 9,229 people from 3,715 homes were checked for rabies.

At the same time, the state Veterinary Services Department vaccinated 241 dogs, 929 cats and 13 other animals in seven villages.

For information, call the Sarawak SHD Hotline at 082-443248/082-441780, 8am to 5pm, daily. – July 11, 2017.