COMMENT | The fifth rabies victim from Serian died at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) on July 23.

Tinding Lambang, 52, from Kampung Remun, succumbed to rabies encephalomyelitis after he was bitten by a dog in early May.

That the deceased was an adult underscores the seriousness of the disease outbreak in the state. Children are normally more vulnerable and according to Mission Rabies, a UK-based NGO, 100 children die from rabies daily, mainly in India and Africa.

Rabies also causes the deaths of around 61,000 people globally every year – the majority of whom are children under 15.

Since the outbreak in Sarawak was detected last month, the first four victims were kampung kids in Serian. According to their parents, they were cheerful everyday village kiddies who love playing with cats and dogs.

In their innocence, children do not recognise a rabies-infected dog when they see one.

Those who love animals and keep them as pets, will readily take in a sick dog, even a stray one. Most will not know whether the animal carries a deadly disease or not...