Kubang Pasu:Kedah: The State Health Department of Kedah has confirmed the first human rabies case in the state since 1998. A 31-year-old man from Kubang Pasu has died after being bitten by a stray dog in August.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim initially sought medical treatment but did not receive rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. On September 18, he began experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and numbness in the right upper limb. By September 22, these symptoms had progressed to difficulty swallowing, hydrophobia, aerophobia, anxiety, and behavioral changes, all indicative of rabies.
The man sought further medical attention on September 23 and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Laboratory tests on clinical samples taken on September 24 confirmed rabies two days later.
Following this confirmation, several agencies, including the Kedah State Health Department, Kubang Pasu District Health Office, and the Kedah Veterinary Services Department, implemented control and prevention measures. These measures included active case detection, health education, enhanced surveillance of animal-bite cases, risk assessment, and control of stray animals in the affected area.
Given that this is the first human rabies case reported in Kedah in over two decades, the Ministry of Health, along with relevant agencies, is conducting a thorough epidemiological investigation. The investigation aims to identify the source of infection and the route of exposure by examining the victim's travel and exposure history, identifying contacts and risk factors, and analyzing the timeline of events.
Control measures are being reinforced under the 'One Health' approach, focusing on human exposure management, surveillance of animal-bite cases, and monitoring and risk assessment of dogs and other potentially exposed animals in high-risk areas.
As of August 2026, there have been 502 reported cases of animal bites and scratches in Kedah, with 65.3% involving dogs, 23.1% cats, and 11.6% other animals. Of these cases, 56.2% involved domestic animals, while 43.8% involved stray animals.
The public is reminded that rabies can be transmitted through bites, scratches, or exposure to the saliva of infected animals. Pet owners are urged to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies. 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 for appropriate treatment.