SIBURAN – Authorities have stepped up rabies control measures in the Siburan District following the confirmation of a positive case involving a dog in Kampung Mundai.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak Serian Division, working alongside security agencies and local councils, has been conducting an Integrated Rabies Control Operation over the past two weeks.
The initiative aims to strengthen herd immunity and reduce the number of high-risk animals through voluntary surrender programmes.
The first phase of the operation, which ran from 2 March to 14 March, saw DVS teams moving door-to-door within a five-kilometre radius of the index case.
Villages covered included Kampung Mundai, Kampung Simpok, Kampung Chupak, Kampung Patung, and several surrounding areas. The campaign was coordinated with the Siburan District Council, Serian District Council, and supported by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
Officials have reminded residents of their responsibilities under the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance (VPHO) 1999.
Section 40 requires owners to be present at home to manage their animals during operations, while Section 37 stipulates that dogs must be confined within fenced areas or kept under effective control with collars and chains. Any dog found roaming freely outside will be treated as a stray and removed without prior notice.
The operation is scheduled to continue in phases, with upcoming visits planned for:
- Monday, 16 March: Sarig Village
- Tuesday, 17 March: Pesa Village
- Wednesday, 18 March: Rabak Tabuan Village
Residents are urged to cooperate fully to ensure the success of the programme. Authorities emphasise that rabies is fatal but preventable, and vaccination remains the most effective safeguard.
Members of the public who encounter dogs showing symptoms of rabies are advised to contact the DVS Serian hotline at 013-967 2264 immediately.
The intensified operation reflects Sarawak’s ongoing commitment to rabies prevention, with officials stressing that community participation is vital in protecting both human and animal health.
