Five human rabies cases and almost 800 cases of people being bitten by rabid animals have been reported in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. All five people infected with rabies have died.
Rabies is a deadly disease found in the saliva of infected animals. All mammals can get rabies. People usually get rabies from licks, bites, or scratches from infected dogs or other animals.
Rabies affects the nervous system causing brain disease and death. Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, so prevention is especially important.
Avoid touching all animals, including wild animals and pets. Pets in other countries, such as Malaysia, may not be vaccinated against rabies.
See your local travel clinic to get vaccinated for Rabies before traveling to an area of risk.