DVS tests 18 dogs following rabies scare in Kedah’s Changlun

The Kedah Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is conducting rabies confirmatory testing on samples from 18 dogs in the Changlun area after a man was bitten by a stray dog.

This initiative is part of broader efforts involving the capture of stray dogs and rabies surveillance in Kedah, especially in border areas near Thailand.

Despite all 164 earlier samples testing negative, heightened monitoring continues to prevent the spread of rabies.

The public is advised against interacting with stray dogs and urged to report any incidents, while owned dogs must receive rabies vaccinations per regulatory requirements.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 29 — The Kedah Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has collected samples from 18 dogs in Changlun, Kedah, and surrounding areas for rabies confirmatory testing as of yesterday, following an incident where a man was bitten by a stray dog in the area.

In a statement today, DVS announced that the case involving the 31-year-old man was reported by the Kedah State Health Department on Sept 24.

Subsequently, Kedah DVS conducted an on-site investigation and carried out operations to capture stray dogs in collaboration with the Kubang Pasu Municipal Council to locate the suspected animal and assess the potential presence of the rabies virus.

“As of Sept 28, samples have been collected from 18 dogs in the vicinity of the bite incident for rabies confirmatory testing. Kedah DVS is continuing its investigation and awaiting laboratory results to confirm the presence of rabies among dogs in Kedah,” the statement read.

DVS noted that Changlun is located within the rabies buffer zone or immune belt which extends 50 kilometres from the Thai border.

“In this area, all owned dogs are required to undergo rabies vaccination under the Animals Act 1953. This measure is implemented to reduce the risk of rabies spreading to other areas. As of August this year, 504 owned dogs in the Kubang Pasu district, and 1,349 owned dogs across Kedah, have received the rabies vaccine,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Kedah DVS is continuing its rabies surveillance programme across all districts; 164 samples were tested as of August, all of which returned negative results.

Monitoring and sampling activities have also been intensified in areas bordering Thailand to ensure there is no spread of the rabies outbreak into the country.

Rabies affects the nervous system and can be fatal. Infected dogs may exhibit behavioral changes such as becoming aggressive or unusually docile, restless, or withdrawn and may bark or bite without provocation.

Other symptoms include weakness, loss of coordination, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, and paralysis, eventually leading to death.

In this regard, DVS advises the public not to approach, touch, or handle stray or abandoned dogs, sick dogs, or any animals displaying unusual behaviour.

DVS further advises individuals bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal suspected of carrying rabies to wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and to seek immediate medical treatment at a health facility, even if the wound appears minor.

“Report any biting incidents to the nearest Veterinary Services Office to enable investigations and follow-up actions to be carried out while also ensuring owned dogs receive rabies vaccinations in accordance with DVS directives and are not allowed to roam freely,” the statement read.

Kedah DVS will continue to collaborate with the Kedah State Health Department, local authorities, and relevant agencies on monitoring, investigations, and the implementation of control measures to safeguard both animal and public health.

Members of the public in Kedah can provide information or lodge reports with the Field Operations Centre at the Kubang Pasu District Veterinary Services Office by calling 04-916 2207, or with the State Operations Centre at 04-702 5336.

Those outside Kedah may submit reports to their nearest Veterinary Services Office or contact the DVS hotline at 03-8870 2041. — Bernama

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吉打州兽医服务局 (DVS) 正在对昌仑地区 18 只狗的样本进行狂犬病确诊检测，此前一名男子被一只流浪狗咬伤。

这项举措是吉打州，特别是靠近泰国的边境地区，开展流浪狗捕捉和狂犬病监测等更广泛工作的一部分。

尽管此前所有 164 个样本的检测结果均为阴性，但仍将继续加强监测以防止狂犬病的传播。

建议公众不要与流浪狗接触，并敦促举报任何此类事件；同时，家养犬只必须按照规定接种狂犬病疫苗。

布城，9月29日讯——吉打州兽医服务局（DVS）昨日已从吉打州樟仑及其周边地区的18只狗身上采集样本，进行狂犬病确诊检测。此前，该地区发生了一起男子被流浪狗咬伤的事件。

DVS今天发表声明称，吉打州卫生部门于9月24日报告了这起涉及一名31岁男子的病例。

随后，吉打州兽医服务局与古邦巴素市议会合作，开展现场调查和捕捉流浪狗的行动，以找到疑似携带狂犬病毒的动物并评估其是否存在狂犬病毒。

声明称：“截至9月28日，已从咬伤事件发生地附近18只狗身上采集样本进行狂犬病确诊检测。吉打州兽医服务局正在继续调查，并等待实验室结果以确认吉打州犬只中是否存在狂犬病。”

DVS指出，昌伦位于狂犬病缓冲区或免疫带内，该缓冲区或免疫带从泰国边境延伸50公里。

声明补充道：“根据1953年《动物法》，该地区所有家养犬只都必须接种狂犬病疫苗。这项措施旨在降低狂犬病传播到其他地区的风险。截至今年8月，古邦巴素县已有504只家养犬只接种了狂犬病疫苗，吉打州全州共有1349只家养犬只接种了狂犬病疫苗。”

与此同时，吉打州兽医局继续在所有地区开展狂犬病监测计划；截至8月，已检测了164个样本，所有样本的检测结果均为阴性。

为确保狂犬病疫情不会蔓延到泰国，与泰国接壤地区的监测和采样活动也已加强。

狂犬病会影响神经系统，并可能致命。感染狂犬病的犬只可能会出现行为改变，例如变得具有攻击性或异常温顺、焦躁不安或孤僻，并且可能无故吠叫或咬人。

其他症状包括虚弱、失去协调能力、吞咽困难、唾液分泌过多和瘫痪，最终导致死亡。

在这方面，兽医服务部建议公众不要接近、触摸或处理流浪狗、被遗弃的狗、生病的狗或任何表现出异常行为的动物。

DVS 还建议，如果被疑似携带狂犬病的狗或其他动物咬伤或抓伤，应立即用肥皂和流水清洗伤口至少 15 分钟，并立即到医疗机构就医，即使伤口看起来很轻微。

声明中写道：“请将任何咬人事件报告给最近的兽医服务办公室，以便进行调查和后续行动，同时确保家养犬只按照兽医服务部门的指示接种狂犬病疫苗，并且不允许它们自由活动。”

吉打州兽医局将继续与吉打州卫生局、地方当局和相关机构合作，开展监测、调查和实施控制措施，以保障动物和公众健康。

吉打州的公众可以通过拨打 04-916 2207 联系古邦巴素区兽医服务办公室的现场行动中心，或拨打 04-702 5336 联系州行动中心，提供信息或提交报告。

吉打州以外的居民可向就近的兽医服务办公室提交报告，或拨打兽医服务热线03-8870 2041。——马新社

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