Rabies claims third victim in Sarawak (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: A seven year old child has become the third victim to have succumbed to rabies in Serian.
The girl from Kampung Lebor died today at 2.16pm.
There were four confirmed rabies cases in Serian where three died and one is now at the ICU in Hospital Umum Sarawak.
"There have been no more new cases reported so far. Active Case Detection (ACD) is done to trace dog bites in the area where the infection has occurred by the Serian Health Office together with the Sarawak State Health Department.
ACD is done in 96 areas involving 5,663 homes and 21,978 people have been interviewed to determine if they have a history of being bitten by dogs. As many as 225 dog bite cases have been identified in Serian and have been treated," Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement today.
The previous victims — a six-year-old girl and four-year-old boy, both siblings, from Kampung Paon, Sungai Rimu, Serian, died at 1.43pm and 1.46pm, respectively, at the Sarawak General Hospital on July 4.
Noor Hisham said awareness activities about rabies are also being carried out to educate the locals in the area about the disease.
Among the prevention steps the Health Ministry has recommended are:
1. A person should seek immediate treatment if they are bitten by dogs, either a pet dog or a stray.
2. Ensure pet dogs have been vaccinated against rabies in veterinary clinics and avoid contacts with stray dogs.
3. If pet dogs are unwell or seem to be aggressive, seek immediate treatment in veterinary clinics and report the incident to the local Veterinary Department.
4. Report to local authorities if there are strays nearby homes
5. Maintain good hygiene by washing hands after contact with dogs.