KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has advised individuals who are bitten by the dog to get vaccinated at government hospitals at once.

He regretted that the latest human rabies victim was only treated at a private clinic where the doctor failed to refer the said victim to a government hospital.

“If a person is bitten by the dog, the person has to report to the rabies centre in Kuching where the vaccine will be given to the victim.

“In this particular case (the latest victim), it was not done and it is very unfortunate. The doctor who treated him (the victim) did not advise him to report himself to the rabies centre in Kuching,” he told reporters after flagging off the Malaysia Palm Oil Industry’s Centennial Run within the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) compound here today.

Uggah, who is Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman, said they had advised the people to wash the wound immediately after they were bitten by the dog.

“Clean it immediately and go to see the doctor. I think it is now better for them to go to public hospitals.

“At (government) hospitals, we have clearer SOP (standard of procedures). This is what we want to emphasise to the public. The most important thing is to get immediate vaccination once you’re bitten by the dog,” added Uggah.

Sarawak’s latest human rabies victim is a 59-year-old man from Jalan Batu Kawa-Matang. He is the seventh victim following the case last August that involved a boy, aged seven, from Kpg Kuala, Gedong.