PUTRAJAYA: The Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has activated surveillance and sampling efforts to detect rabies in stray dogs in a 1km radius from the index case following the death of a man in Selangor's Petaling district on April 4.

       In a statement on Monday (April 11), it said the result of the veterinary laboratory test using a direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) done on the nine samples taken from strays, however, showed all to be free of the rabies virus.

       "The DVS will continue with the surveillance and sampling exercise on stray dogs in Petaling district to detect rabies.

       "So far, there have been no complaints about the death of dogs infected with rabies, or signs of clinical rabies, in Selangor,” it added.

       Meanwhile, the DVS said a rabies control programme was ongoing nationwide while the monitoring and testing of samples through DFAT all this time had not detected incidence of rabies.

       The DVS advises members of the public to immediately report to the nearest Veterinary Services Office if they see dogs which are unusually aggressive or listless.

       "Any case of dog bite must be immediately reported to a Veterinary Services Office and the victim should seek immediate treatment at the nearest clinic or hospital," it said, while also advising the public not to panic but to cooperate in dealing with cases of rabies, if any.

       On Sunday (April 10), Selangor DVS reported the death of a 40-year-old local man on March 10, confirmed to be from rabies. – Bernama