Kedah records first rabies death since 1998

Kedah records first rabies death since 1998

PETALING JAYA: The death of a 31-year-old man from Kubang Pasu has been confirmed to be the first human rabies case in Kedah since 1998.

The state health department (JKN) said the man who died today had been bitten by a stray dog in August, Bernama reported.

It said the victim sought treatment at a healthcare facility after the incident but did not receive rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

“On Sept 18, the victim began experiencing fatigue, weakness and numbness in the right upper limb. The symptoms progressed to difficulty swallowing, hydrophobia, aerophobia, anxiety and behavioural changes on Sept 22, consistent with the clinical manifestations of rabies.

“The following day, the victim sought treatment again and was referred for further treatment before being admitted to the intensive care unit,” Kedah JKN said in a statement today.

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It said clinical samples taken on Sept 24 were confirmed by laboratory tests two days later to be positive for rabies.

“Following the confirmation, Kedah JKN, the Kubang Pasu district health office, the Kedah veterinary services department and relevant agencies implemented control and prevention measures, including active case detection, health education, enhanced surveillance of animal-bite cases, risk assessment and control of stray animals in the affected area.

“As this is the first human rabies case reported in Kedah since 1998, the health ministry, together with Kedah JKN and relevant agencies, is conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation to identify the source of infection and route of exposure,” it added.

The investigation includes examining the victim’s travel and exposure history, identifying contacts and risk factors, and analysing the timeline of events to determine the source and factors associated with the infection.

Kedah JKN said control measures were also being strengthened under the “One Health” approach, involving human exposure management, surveillance of animal-bite cases, as well as monitoring and risk assessment of dogs and other potentially exposed animals in high-risk areas.

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It said that as of August 2026, a total of 502 animal bite and scratch cases had been reported in Kedah, with 65.3% involving dogs, 23.1% cats and 11.6% other animals, adding that of these, 56.2% involved domestic animals and 43.8% stray animals.

It reminded the public that rabies can be transmitted through bites, scratches or exposure to the saliva of infected animals, and urged pet owners to ensure their dogs and cats receive anti-rabies vaccinations.

Kedah JKN also said that anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention at a public or private healthcare facility for risk assessment and appropriate treatment.