Penang has recorded no human rabies cases since the last two were reported in 1975, and the Penang State Health Department (JKNPP) remains on standby to respond to any possible case, according to Bernama.
State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said no animal rabies cases had been detected in the state to date, and that Penang has kept its guard up since a human case was confirmed in neighbouring Kedah, as NST reported. The last human case in Penang was recorded in 1975, or 51 years ago.
“We are on full alert and in a state of preparedness to deal with any incident,” he said at the Penang state-level Clean, Smoke-Free Premises (BeBAs) Programme.
“No new cases have been reported thus far, but we are always prepared to deal with any incidents,” he said at a press conference for the Penang state-level Clean, Smoke-Free Premises (BeBAs) Programme at Food Bayana Medan.
The state government is working with the Department of Veterinary Services to monitor the rabies situation in Penang.
The alert follows the death of a 31-year-old man from Kubang Pasu in Kedah on 27 September, after he was reportedly bitten by a stray dog in August. The case was Kedah’s first confirmed human rabies case since 1998, a gap of 28 years.
Gooi advised the public to follow Ministry of Health guidelines when bitten by an animal, including seeking immediate medical attention at any healthcare facility so that anyone exposed to infection risk receives proper examination and appropriate treatment.
Rabies is a viral disease that spreads through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, or through contact with its saliva. It attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented when treatment starts promptly after a suspected exposure.
Post-exposure prophylaxis is given before symptoms begin. It usually means a short series of injections at a clinic, with rabies immunoglobulin added for deeper wounds. Because the treatment only works as prevention, health authorities ask anyone bitten or scratched by an animal to report it and be examined the same day.
Penang has recorded no animal rabies cases to date, and JKNPP has said it will remain on standby to respond should any case be detected. The department will keep watch on the situation in the state with the Department of Veterinary Services.
