KUCHING: A 44-year-old woman was the latest rabies fatality in Sarawak, bringing the number of deaths to 16 out of the 18 human cases this year.

State health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the woman died here on Tuesday after experiencing symptoms since Nov 28, and clinical samples confirmed that she had rabies.

He said she had six pet cats that roamed freely and were never vaccinated against rabies.

“One of her cats died two months ago. The woman, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, denied having a history of animal bites but based on clinical observation, she had old scratches and wounds and was constantly licked by her cats.
 

“However, she never sought treatment or rabies vaccination at a health facility,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Ooi said rabies cases in Sarawak had increased to 18 between Jan 1 and Dec 13, compared with 14 in the same period last year.

Of this year’s cases, he said five were reported in Sibu, four each in Serian and Kuching, three in Bintulu, and two in Samarahan.
 

The cumulative number of cases now stands at 73 with 66 deaths since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.

Given the rise in cases, Dr Ooi reminded the public to take preventive steps against rabies.

These include seeking immediate treatment at a post-bite clinic for animal bites or scratches and getting a complete course of the anti-rabies vaccination.

The anti-rabies vaccine is available at 130 post-bite clinics at public health facilities and 29 private medical centers in Sarawak.

“Also, 11 hospitals provide rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) jabs for high-risk cases,” Dr Ooi added.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by several lyssaviruses, including the rabies virus. The disease affects the central nervous system, and once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is nearly 100% fatal.

Capable of infecting both domestic and wild animals, rabies spreads to people and animals through saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (through eyes, mouth, or open wounds).

Globally, children between the ages of five and 14 are the most frequent victims.