Sarawak: Sarawak recorded another rabies-related death, involving an elderly man from Bintulu, bringing the total number of human rabies cases in the state to four so far this year. The State Health Department, in a statement today, said that the 63-year-old victim died on May 3 after being confirmed to have contracted rabies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim had a history of being bitten by a puppy in mid-February, but did not seek treatment at any health facility. He only washed the wound with water for less than five minutes before returning home without receiving a vaccine or further treatment.

The department reported that the victim was admitted to Bintulu Hospital on April 26 when he began experiencing weakness in his limbs and refused to drink. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the victim had been infected with rabies.

Investigations found that the main risk factor for this case was the delay in seeking treatment after being bitten by an animal. The dog that bit the victim had also never been vaccinated, and the animal's rabies infection status could not be ascertained.

Since the rabies outbreak was declared in Sarawak in July 2017, a total of 94 human rabies cases have been recorded, 87 of which were fatal, bringing the fatality rate from the disease to 92.6 per cent.