By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Malaysia Ministry of Health reported an additional human rabies case/death in a 51-year-old man from Jalan Penrissen, Kuching, Sarawak.

The individual was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital on 26 August 2020 due to back pain which made it difficult to move for three days before being admitted to the ward. He had vomited and had a seizure before being admitted to the hospital. The case passed away on September 8, 2020 with a diagnosis of rabies encephalitis.

Preliminary investigations have not been able to confirm any history of dog or other animal bites occurring on him. However, he does keep a cat and a dog. His pet dog has not received the anti-rabies vaccine but has not been released from the home area. To this day, the status of these two animals is good and there is no change in behavior.

With the confirmation of this new rabies case, the total number of cases for 2020 is three and all three cases have died. Meanwhile, the total number of cases for the entire rabies epidemic in Sarawak which was declared on 1 July 2017 until now is 25 cases; including 24 deaths.