PUTRAJAYA: Five samples taken from stray dogs in Kuala Sepetang in Taiping, Perak have been sent to Veterinary Research Institute for tests following a rabies case reported there.
Veterinary Service Deparment director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam in a statement said surveillance was being monitored within 1km radius of the detected case with animal population of 305.
"A total of 19 stray dogs had been culled so far. The operation and awareness campaign covers door-to-door checks where our personnel visited 275 pet owners there," he said.
Perak government declared the Matang sub-district, where the case was first detected, as well as Larut and Selama, as rabies-infected areas.
The dog showed clinical symptoms of contracting the viral disease; vomiting, having no appetite, fever and cramps, five days after it has bitten two girls aged 12 and 11 in Tepi Sungai.
The dog died nine days after the attack. The children recovered from the wounds without comorbid or co-existing illnesses.