KUCHING, Sept 20: Cats are increasingly at risk of contracting rabies from dogs, a situation Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian likened to the antics of “Tom and Jerry.” He explained that just like the cartoon duo, cats and dogs often play with each other, making them highly susceptible to transmitting the disease. "Currently, rabies cases involving cats are only about 2%," he said. "But if more dogs become infected, it will spread to more cats, and then cats can pass it back to humans. It goes around in a circle." He made these comments to reporters after officiating World Rabies Day at the MBKS community hall today. Emphasizing the need for strong community engagement, Dr. Sim, who is also Sarawak's Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, stressed that vaccinating at least half of the pet dog population could reduce the risk of rabies by 50%. "At the moment, the law does not require cats to be registered, but if necessary, we may need to consider it in the future. We hope it will not come to that," he asserted. --- Meanwhile, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) director Datu Dr. Adrian Susin Ambud revealed that since the outbreak in 2017, a total of 278,000 animals have been vaccinated, including 10,957 this year alone. He also shared that out of 490 samples taken this year, 45 tested positive for rabies. Of these, about 2% were cats, while the rest were dogs. Dr. Adrian also noted that nearly half of the positive cases were from owned dogs, most of which had not been vaccinated. "About 50% are positive. We want to appeal to the public to come forward and get their dogs vaccinated, because this is free," he urged. Also present were MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng; Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) permanent secretary Datu Elizabeth Loh; Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) deputy permanent secretary Sayed Ismail Nasiruddin Wan Hashim; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) deputy permanent secretary Desmond Douglas Jerukan; and Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Drury Wee.

KUCHING, Sept 20 — The Sarawak government may explore extending pet licensing requirements to cats as part of wider community engagement efforts to curb rabies, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. Dr Sim said while dogs are already subject to mandatory vaccination and licensing, the growing number of rabies cases linked to cats raises the need for public consultation on whether similar measures should apply to felines. “Since 2017, the number of dog bites has remained constant, with half of them now coming from people’s own pets. “We are also seeing increased cases of cat scratches and bites. “So when we say ‘dog bites,’ we must also include cat scratches, because rabies can spread through saliva, whether from a bite or from scratches contaminated with saliva,” he said. Dr Sim was speaking after officiating the 2025 World Rabies Day event, jointly organised by Place Borneo and the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVSS), at the MBKS Community Hall today. Also present were DVSS director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng. “At present, dogs must be licensed but cats do not. We want community engagement to discuss if licensing cats could help us keep track of vaccinations and improve public health safety,” he said. Dr Sim stressed that rabies is not confined to strays, noting that household pets can also carry and transmit the virus. He reminded that vaccinating pets is mandatory for dogs under Section 40 of the 1999 Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, and owners who fail to comply can face compounds. “To protect your pets and the community, three things are most important: vaccinate, license, and neuter,” he said, adding that subsidised neutering programmes are available through local councils. Rabies remains a serious public health threat in Sarawak, with two deaths recorded this year alone, one in Kuching and another in Bintulu. Since the outbreak began in 2017, more than 278,840 animals have been vaccinated. For 2025, 10,957 animals have received vaccinations statewide. “Rabies cases remain high, with 34 in Kuching, nine in Bintulu, one in Kapit, and one in Samarahan. “Laboratory tests confirmed 45 positive cases from 490 samples, of which 42 involved dogs. “More worryingly, nearly half (46 per cent) of these cases came from owned dogs, while the rest were from strays,” Dr Sim added. — The Borneo Post

KUCHING, Sept 20 (Bernama) – A total of 278,840 animals in Sarawak have been vaccinated since the state launched its campaign against rabies, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian. He said that so far this year, 10,957 animals have been vaccinated across the state. "Despite these efforts, challenges remain. We continue to record a high number of cases, with 34 reported in Kuching, nine in Bintulu, one in Kapit, and one in Kota Samarahan," he told reporters at the World Rabies Day event here today. Dr. Sim said that laboratory tests conducted on 490 samples detected 45 positive cases, 42 of which involved dogs. "Alarmingly, nearly half of these cases—46%—came from owned dogs, while the rest were from strays, including cats. Sarawak also records an average of 380 bite cases weekly," he said. Dr. Sim, who is also Sarawak's Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, expressed concern over the rising number of rabies cases, stressing that not only dog bites but also cat bites and scratches contribute to infections. He explained that scratches must be taken seriously as rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, and even a minor scratch can pose a risk if the animal’s paws or claws are contaminated. "We need to educate the public that when we refer to a 'dog bite,' scratches must also be considered. Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an infected dog or cat when it scratches a person," he said. According to Dr. Sim, rabies continues to pose a serious public health threat in Sarawak, with 85 human cases reported since the outbreak was declared in 2017. Of the total, 78 were fatal. "This year alone, we have recorded two new fatal cases, underscoring the urgency of the situation," he said.

KUCHING: The Department  of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) continues to intensify its animal sterilization campaign to prevent the population of rabies-carrying animals, especially stray dogs, from increasing. Its director, Datu Dr. Adrian Susin Ambud, said this effort is part of a large-scale vaccination drive to curb rabies in the state. "One of our challenges in Sarawak is the very large area and the many stray or wandering dogs that are very difficult for us to catch and vaccinate," he said. "This population continues to multiply. We appeal to the public to sterilize their animals to control the population from continuing to breed, especially those that are roaming free. "The state government, through local authorities, has provided subsidies for this sterilization program, but the response has not been encouraging," he added. He was speaking to reporters after the opening ceremony of World Rabies Day 2025, which was officiated by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian at the MBKS Community Hall here today. According to Dr. Adrian, sterilization helps reduce the population of stray or roaming animals, thereby curbing the spread of rabies among animals. "We want animal owners, especially if you love your pets, to first vaccinate your animals, then apply for a license, and sterilize them to protect your animals. "We will work to intensify this sterilization campaign," he said. Earlier in his speech, Dr. Adrian said that JPVS is highly committed to implementing various initiatives and strategies, including dog vaccination programs, surveillance, and laboratory sampling. He also mentioned that the enforcement of licensing for owned dogs and 'targeted removal' will be carried out by local authorities, while awareness campaigns will be conducted continuously by UKAS. However, he said these efforts will not be successful without cooperation from all levels of society, including animal owners, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies. Regarding the program, he said its objective is to commemorate World Rabies Day, which is held annually on September 28 worldwide. "The goal is to increase public awareness about rabies, its prevention, and how we can prevent it from spreading," he said. The theme for this year's World Rabies Day is 'Act Now, You, Me, Community,' which focuses on the shared responsibility to act against or eradicate rabies.