By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Malaysia Ministry of Health reported an additional human rabies case in Sarawak province, the ninth of the year.
The case is a 53-year-old woman from Selangau district, Sibu who was admitted to the Sibu Hospital on 8 December 2020 with symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. She also complained of sore throat, fever and weakness for three days before being admitted to the ward.
She died on 15 December 2020 with a diagnosis of rabies meningoencephalitis. The diagnosis was confirmed with a laboratory test positive for rabies by the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) on 17 December 2020.
The deceased was bitten by her pet dog on the finger in October 2020, but she did not seek treatment at any health facility. The dog died without knowing the cause of death a few days after biting the woman but it was not reported to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).
The total number of cases in the rabies epidemic in Sarawak declared on 31 July 2017 to date is 31 cases with 29 deaths. Only two cases are still alive and both are children with a history of having received early treatment.
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