KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is stepping up efforts to keep rabies out of the state, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
He was responding to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee declaring Lawas a rabies-infected district on June 10 after the virus was discovered in stray dogs at Lawas market.
The market is only about 11km from the Merapok-Sindumin Immigration-Quarantine-Security (IQS) checkpoint.
Jeffrey, who is also state agriculture and fisheries minister, said Sabah had made even earlier preparations against rabies following the first announcement of rabies infection in Serian, Sarawak on July 1,2017.
"This involves simulation exercises, public awareness campaigns and vaccination of dogs, cats and other carriers at all entry points into the state.
"Since the rabies outbreak in Sarawak, Sabah has also banned the importation of cats and dogs, and the ban is still in effect.
"By 2020, 80 per cent of pets at the borders have been vaccinated, far exceeding the targeted 70 per cent.
"In addition, outside of these border areas, vaccines for rabies are available at private veterinary clinics," he said in a statement today.
According to Jeffrey, the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) provided free vaccines to all dog and cat owners in Sipitang via its office in the district.
The goal is to boost the pets' immunity, as rabies is preventable through regular vaccinations. Increased immunity among pets will also keep the virus from infecting humans.
Jeffrey added that the free vaccine initiative would be expanded to neighbouring districts such as Tenom and Beaufort.
"Awareness campaigns will be intensified, particularly among residents of border towns and villages, to ensure the people are aware of the danger of the virus and play an active role in preventing it from entering the State.
"The awareness campaigns will run concurrently with the Covid-19 Outreach programme in all targeted districts, in collaboration with other agencies such as the district offices, district information offices and health offices."
Jeffrey added that a rabies-carrying animals population management effort aimed at achieving "Zero Stray" status would be implemented, with a focus on border districts.
"This is to protect the communities from the potential of rabies-causing bites if stray animals have been infected by other animals from neighbouring Sarawak.
"Furthermore, sampling for viral detection in stray animals will be expanded to ensure that preventive actions may be taken effectively," he said.
On the African Swine Flu (ASF), Jeffrey said Keningau had become the latest district to be declared an ASF outbreak area. This came after the virus was discovered in backyard pigs in Kampung Bandukan Lama, where 24 pigs were reported dead due to the virus.
"Preliminary investigation suggested that the ASF may have been brought into the village by wild bearded pigs. Prior to the death of the backyard pigs, the DVS received a report of a dead wild bearded pig in a forest near the village.
"Keningau has about 1,000 pigs in total, and all of them are at risk of infection due to insufficient biosecurity level. Therefore, the DVS is currently conducting awareness campaigns in the district to advise the community not to move their pigs or pork products without permission from the department," said Jeffrey.
Although the virus has been detected in 12 districts, two districts – Pitas and Kota Marudu – are now classified as "yellow index" after no new ASF cases were reported in the past 60 days.
The disease is also being managed per the DVS's standard operating procedure.
A yellow index zone means that pig repopulation is permitted as long as the farm improves its biosecurity and the pigs are sourced from ASF-free farms. However, the movement of pigs and pork products still require authorisation from the DVS.
"My ministry through the DVS will constantly monitor developments on the ground and implement the necessary steps to prevent ASF from spreading to commercial farms," said Jeffrey.