KUCHING, May 14 2026: The state government has set 2030 as a target year for zero rabies deaths in the state, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dr Stephen Rundie Utom told reporters today.
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However, he said the target may not be met and could be extended beyond 2030, admitting that the state government has set targets in the past, but is unable to achieve due to the incidences of bites by rabid dogs and cats.
He said it is not easy to totally eliminate rabies because it is difficult to control the movement of dogs, especially along the Sarawak=Kalimantan border areas and rural villages, but surprisingly not in Malay kampungs.
He said many of the villages that breed dogs are found along the border areas.
“If we have problems monitoring and controlling of human beings, then monitoring and controlling dogs is impossible,” Dr Rundie said.
“As we know, rabies is a global issues, affecting many countries,” he said.
“It is very important for the people of Sarawak to know that death due to rabies can be prevented.
“So long as you follow standard operating procedure (SOP), such as seeking immediate medical treatment after being bitten by dogs or cats, you can be saved,” Dr Rundie, a medical doctor by profession, said.
“We have many reported cases of people bitten by dogs or cats, but the number of fatalities now stand 87,” he said at a press conference to announce that Sarawak will hold Rabies in Asian conference on Sept 29 to Oct 1, 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
“The reasons why people died after being bitten by rabid does are that either they are ignorant of the SOP or being stubborn by not seeking treatment or they just want to die.
“If you want to die, then go ahead, and if you want to survive, the follow the SOP,” he stressed.
Dr Rundie explained that, apart from dogs and cats, there are no known cases of rabies being spread by other animals.
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