GEORGE TOWN: Amidst the fear over the rabies outbreak in Penang, Kedah and Perlis, dog owners have been dealt another blow – shortage of anti-rabies vaccine.
The supply of the imported vaccines will only arrive next month.
According to one of three companies supplying the vaccines in Malaysia, existing stock could only be administered to about 100 dogs.
“The outbreak has taken us by surprise. It is a very unusual situation,” said a spokesman for the company.
“The demand is running into thousands for both government and private veterinary clinics,” he added.
He said the first of the vaccines from France would arrive between October and December.
“The first batch should be sufficient for supply in the northern region.”
The two other anti-rabies vaccine suppliers also confirmed that their stocks were low.
Since the outbreak, demand increased in the Klang Valley and southern parts of the country, too.
George Cheah, who lives in Bukit Gelugor, said he was disappointed that he could not get a vaccination jab for his dog.
“Although I keep my dog within the compound of my house, I’m not taking any chances,” he said.
“But my veterinarian says the vaccines will only be available next month. I have no choice but to wait and continue to keep my dog within the compound,” he said.
State Veterinary Services director Dr Siti Salmiyah Tahir urged the people not to panic.
“Vaccination is merely a defensive step to safeguard the animals, and not a solution to the problem,” she said.
She reminded owners to keep their dogs within fences of their homes and put them on leashes when they are outside to protect them from being infected with rabies.
Veterinarian Dr K. Pavabakaran said rabies-infected dogs could take between six to eight weeks to show any symptoms.
He said the infected dog could only transmit the disease if it bit another animal.
“A fever will occur in some and the infected dog would start scratching, chewing and licking the wounds during this period.
“The animal would then develop a paralysis of the jaw and tongue and would begin foaming in the mouth.”
Dr Pavabakaran said a rabid dog would also develop a fear of water.
“Dogs usually are not afraid of water, but a rabies-infected dog would resist water because of paralysis of the tongue,” he said, adding that death would occur between seven to 10 days.
发表于 20-9-2015 02:25 PM
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