KUCHING: Operations to remove strays and free-roaming dogs off the streets of rabies-infected zones will be carried out in Sarawak, said Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the campaign is part of intensified efforts to combat the rabies outbreak in the state.

He added that the operation will begin on Wednesday (Jan 3) and focus on the new buffer zone between Kuching and Sibu mapped by the state disaster relief committee.

Uggah added that drastic measures were being taken following the declaration of SMK Julau No 1 in Sarikei as the 27th area with a rabies outbreak last Friday (Dec 29).

The operation also comes amid an increasing number of dog bite cases in Matang, Batu Kawah and Bau.

The operation is being organised by the state Local Government Ministry with the police and Veterinary Services Department.

The first five days of the "mass stray removal" operation will cover areas in Matang, Batu Kawah, Tabuan, BDC, Rantau Panjang, Moyan including Singai, Bau and Serikin.

"We advise dog owners to keep their pets inside the house compound or in a proper enclosure. The authorities will not hesitate or compromise on removing dogs found wandering the streets.

"We have to take such stringent measures to curb the mobility of carriers and control the spread of rabies. We are taking our war against rabies more aggressively and aim to make Sarawak rabies-free in the shortest time possible," Uggah said.

Uggah, who is also the Sarawak Natural Disaster Management Committee chairman, added that "interim parking" centres will be set up to place captured dogs and that unclaimed dogs after 48 hours may be euthanised.

He also said that the state will set up roadblocks along routes connecting Sarikei and Sibu at the Bintangor and Durin bridges to stop the movement of dogs and cats out of the buffer zone.

Uggah added that the state would continue its vaccination campaign to ensure that at least 80% of dogs or cats within the buffer zone are vaccinated, saying that over 42,000 animals have been vaccinated since the outbreak began next year.

He said that out of the 42,000 vaccinated, 34,000 were dogs.

Of the 27 rabies-infected areas in Sarawak, Serian division has 20 areas, followed by four areas in Kuching and one each in Samarahan, Sri Aman and Sarikei divisions.

The previous rabies-infected area in the state was declared on Oct 23 in Kampung Sampung Gerunggang, Asajaya in Samarahan.