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Penang: Animal activists protest the killing of stray dogs
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10 October 2015
Penang calls off stray dog cullings
Penang calls off stray dog cullings http://ebx.sh/1Ry19sa
GEORGE TOWN – Penang is calling off the culling of stray dogs as no cases of rabies have been reported here since Sept 21, says Lim Guan Eng.
The Chief Minister said the Penang Rabies-Infected Area Order 2015 issued on Sept 15 is revoked effective Friday.
“I was informed by the Department of Veterinary Services that the last case in Penang was on Sept 21 and there is low prevalence of the disease,” he said.
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However, he stressed that the vaccination order for all pet dogs was still in operation and advised all owners to do so.
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28 September 2015
Singapore suspends commercial imports of dogs, cats from Malaysia
AVA suspends imports of dogs, cats from Malaysia after reports of rabies outbreaks http://tdy.sg/1KMzYoS
SINGAPORE — The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has suspended commercial import of dogs and cats from Malaysia, in light of reports of recent rabies outbreaks in three Malaysian states.
The AVA has also changed Malaysia’s rabies risk category from “C” — for countries with controlled risk or low incidence of rabies — to “D”, which is for countries with undetermined risk of rabies, for the personal imports of dogs and cats. This means that these personal imports will face stricter pre-import rabies vaccination requirements and longer post-arrival quarantine periods in Singapore.
These changes have been in place since Sept 22. As of Sept 20, the disease has spread to three states in Malaysia, namely Penang, Perlis and Kedah…
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In a media factsheet released ahead of World Rabies Day tomorrow (Sept 28), the AVA said it has activated the delivery of 50,000 doses of animal rabies vaccines from the OIE Regional Rabies Vaccine Bank in Asia as part of its contingency plan. “Singapore would then have 55,000 doses of animal rabies vaccines for emergency vaccination in the event of an imminent threat or a local outbreak,” the authority said.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ava-suspends-commercial-imports-dogs-cats-malaysia
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AFTER UTUSAN’S RABID ATTACK, LIM GUAN ENG REPLIES: DON’T PLAY WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES!
Penang CM takes Utusan to task over rabies report
Penang CM takes Utusan to task over rabies report http://bit.ly/1NObfVq
Facing a backlash from animal welfare groups for authorising the culling of stray dogs in Penang to curb the spread of rabies, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today slammed Utusan Malaysia for using the issue to attack him.
He said the Umno-controlled Malay daily had accused him of not listening to non-governmental organisations (NGO) that were telling him to reconsider the mass killing approach and to instead go with mass vaccination, like how it was done in India.
“You disagree with me and you want me to go with what the NGOs are saying. But would you, Utusan, make a gamble on the lives of the people during this rabies situation and bear responsibility?
“Would Utusan have the courage to take that kind of responsibility? Don’t play with people’s lives. Retract the column and apologise,” he said after visiting a dog-bite victim at Pantai Hospital in Bayan Baru today with several exco members.
In its analysis, Utusan commented that Lim’s stand, which opposed the calls by animal welfare groups to stop killing strays, was regrettable.
The daily said Lim should not be emotional by saying that he was willing to lose personal support or votes from the NGOs.
Utusan said Lim should have been more rational on the matter because animal welfare groups would never be able to accept the decision to kill the dogs, and called on the state and federal authorities to consider the calls by the NGOs to achieve a win-win solution to the rabies situation.
Lim reiterated that the state would not do nothing when the rabies vaccines were insufficient, and even as the state veterinary services department was promised 300 doses yesterday, only 170 were delivered.
“We hope the rest that were promised to Penang will be delivered soon.”
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Anti-rabies vaccine stock from other states heading to Penang
Anti-rabies vaccine stock from other states heading to Penang http://bit.ly/1gNNQGx
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The Veterinary Services Department (VSD) has collected a total of 300 stocks in anti-rabies vaccine supply from across the country to meet the need in Penang.
Its deputy director-general, Dr Kamaruddin Md Isa said 170 stocks of vaccine would arrive in Penang tonight, and the rest early next week.
“The vaccine stocks were obtained from rabies-free states to meet the high demand in Penang and another 1,700 which have been ordered from France will arrive on September 30.
“We are working earnestly to contain and control rabies in Penang, Kedah and Perlis so that it will not spread and things will get back to normal,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Mertajam today.
Apart from that, he said the department had ordered some 50,000 anti-rabies vaccines also from France, which were expected to be received by October 8 for nationwide use.
“We expect the vaccine supply problem to be fully resolved in one or two weeks’ time and if possible, all dogs in the three states are vaccinated,” he said.
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Astro AWANI#ICYMI: [INFOGRAPHIC] What you need to know about rabies http://bit.ly/1OMHRQ8
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23 September 2015
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NGO Mission Rabies lies exposed
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Lim Guan Eng retweeted sam shea
Pls don’t lie.These r not pics from Pg.We have run out of vaccines even 4pet dogs.Will welcome any but still waiting
Lim Guan Eng added,
sam shea @cmlimguaneng why are you refusing vaccination help from WHO & continuing slaughter
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@thecatsrgrowlin STOP spreadin lies on social media. A Penang vet told us this wk there’s NO Supply on rabies vaccines & many r on wait list
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@thecatsrgrowlin Don’t try to blackmail him with those old pictures,dude.If you like dog that much,why don’t you just adopt all of them
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@thecatsrgrowlin @cmlimguaneng its better no license no dog like Singapore if no @NajibRazak laknatullah much better http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/world/asia/malaysias-leader-najib-razak-faces-us-corruption-inquiry.html?referrer= …
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@thecatsrgrowlin @cmlimguaneng sam .. please come to my taman to pick up the strays … up to you for vaccination or culling.
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Lies, Guan Eng says as gory pictures of dead dogs surface on Twitter
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — Lim Guan Eng took to social media today to refute the authenticity of several gory photographs showing bloodied dogs that a Twitter user used to link to the controversy in Penang over the culling of strays.
The Penang chief minister accused Twitter user @thecatsrgrowlin of lying, saying the photographs, nine in total and put together in a collage, were not of dogs in Penang.
“Pls don’t lie.These r not pics from Pg.We have run out of vaccines even 4pet dogs.Will welcome any but still waiting,” he wrote on the social media site. The response was also posted on Lim’s Facebook page.
@thecatsrgrowlin had earlier tagged Lim to the collage, which also contained a warning in Chinese that read: “Innocent dogs, you must remember this man!!”, along with a smiling picture of the chief minister.
The Penang administration is under fire for its decision to cull stray dogs to stamp out rabies, a move several groups have said is unnecessary when vaccines could be used instead.
On Facebook, several users expressed support for Lim’s remarks while others slammed the chief minister for taking the harsher approach to handling the state’s rabies problem.
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Earlier today, Lim told an international group that promised free anti-rabies vaccine to stop the state’s culling of strays to show that the 50,000 doses offered exist.
The Bagan MP, who is already under pressure from various animal welfare groups for approving the culling of stray dogs in the state in bid to stamp out rabies, told the NGO to simply deliver the vaccines now.
He was responding to a statement by Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS) that offered the vaccines and manpower to assist the state in mass inoculation of dogs in the state.
Veterinary Services Department director Dr Siti Salmiah Tahir today confirmed that the state has run out of rabies vaccines as of last night and that new stock should arrive by October.
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Samples taken from 64 pet dogs found that 20 of them are rabid.
22 September 2015
#Rabies outbreak in Malaysia: 82 people bitten, 2,257 dogs put down so far http://bit.ly/1FoP5rn
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‘Rabid stray dogs entering country through rat lanes’
‘Rabid stray dogs entering country through rat lanes’ https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313167
Stray dogs which entered Perlis through ‘rat lanes’ used by smugglers across the Malaysia-Thai border are believed to have caused the spread of rabies in the state.
Perlis Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism and Regional Development and New Growth Committee chairperson Sabry Ahmad said the dogs could have come from South Thailand, which was still not free from rabies.
This, he said was based on the two cases of dog bites reported in the state last month.
It happened at Felcra Lubuk Sireh and Kaki Bukit, which are along the Malaysia-Thai border, he told reporters after the handing over of 168 heads of cattle for the Aidiladha sacrifice at Guar Nangka in Padang Besar.
However, he said measures were being taken by the Perlis Veterinary Department to contain the spread of the disease.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313167
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DEMONISING LIM GUAN ENG
Shalinee Fernandez Stop the killing of innocent strays in Penang, Kedah & Perlis! Come to.Komtar TODAY to sign this memorandum !
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Animal activist fainted when pleading for Penang to stop culling dogs
At a press gathering in George Town today, animal rights activist Barbara Jensen fainted and fell from her chair while making an emotional appeal to the Penang government to stop “killing” stray dogs.
She was held up by others and after recovering, Janssen knelt down on the floor and “kowtow” to beg the state government to stop killing the dogs.
Those who witnessed the incident were seen wiping off their tears.
Jensen is the founder of the Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS), which led the campaign since Friday to ‘vaccinate, not kill’ stray dogs to stop a rabies outbreak in the state.
“I am willing to exchange my life to keep them alive.
“I’m not afraid of the authority but I worried of what I’m going to do when they come after them (the dogs),” she added.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313073
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為狗請命，檳州動物福利協會（4PAWS）創辦人芭芭拉（70歲）暈倒了！她甦醒後哭跪求情，希望檳首長能收回捕殺成命… http://bit.ly/1LHFCIE
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Anything to win votes: Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow criticised the DAP-led administration for acting unilaterally to kill strays.
BN in Penang culled dogs too, says Guan Eng
BN in Penang culled dogs too, says Guan Eng http://bit.ly/1gFVS4o
The Penang government is hitting back at critics over its move to cull stray dogs to curb rabies, taking issue this time with state Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow who said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration had never killed strays.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the BN component party should not politicise a public health matter.
He also slammed Teng for accusing the DAP-led administration for acting unilaterally to kill strays.
“It is not true at all when the decision was made upon the advice and recommendation of the health and veterinary services departments’ experts.
“We did not act smart on our own but we listened to the experts.
“Penang is the third state to record rabies cases and it is irresponsible for Teng to make such remarks.
“Why didn’t he criticise Perlis and Kedah, which also culled strays after rabies cases were reported there before Penang,” Lim, who is also secretary-general of opposition party DAP, told reporters in Komtar at a press conference today.
Teng had criticised Lim’s government for conducting a mass culling exercise to curb the spread of rabies in the state.
The Penang government today also showed records that more than 6,000 strays were culled under the BN administration between 2003 and early January 2006. DAP came to power in the state in the 2008 general election.
PET+NEWSFLASH! Animal groups in Penang are meeting the DVS this morning to try and change their minds about culling strays to stop rabies.
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Dialogue between @cmlimguaneng Penang State government and Penang Hope of Strays on rabies.
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Stop the killing of innocent strays in Penang, Kedah & Perlis! Come to.Komtar TODAY to sign this memorandum !
@GettingsHarry @ritawongps @KenToddBH Malaysian Strays clubbed to death on streets in the state of Penang PLS HELP
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老人質問他們，“你們有被流浪狗追過嗎？”、“人命還是狗命重要？”，一名愛狗女士回嗆：“我不久前才被狗咬，但我為這些疤痕感到驕傲。”
雖然爭鋒相對，但氣氛尚算和平，雙方未起衝突… http://bit.ly/1Wcx3gu
The elderly to question them,” You could face a stray?”、” back for us? Life is still alive, important?”, One love ms. dog back to choke :” I recently was a dog bite, but I was so proud of these scars.”
Although traded barbs, but the atmosphere was reasonably peace, both parties are not starting conflict… http://bit.ly/1Wcx3gu
【疯狗症】
“当局要开始捕捉流浪狗，我们能做到的是暂时收留它们，为它们注射疫苗，然后再找人领养，可是我们毕竟能力有限，不能长期收留，一旦找不到人领养，只好把它们放走……我们会尽力救它们到最后一刻。”
(rabies)
” for the authorities to start capturing a stray dog, we can do is keep them temporarily, for their vaccination, then I’d have someone to adopt, but after all, we have limited capacity, can’t keep a long-term, once you can’t find people to adopt, had to get them to go…… We’ll try to save them until the last minute.”
Some 200 staff from Malaysia Veterinary Services Department are helping to curb the spread of rabies in three states, where more than 900 stray dogs have been culled. http://str.sg/ZBso
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在本月16日開始捕捉野狗行動，至今已有182隻野狗被捕及人道毀滅… http://bit.ly/1Kot9cL
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Rabies infections in Malaysia likely came from Thailand
AsiaOneRabies infections in Malaysia likely came from Thailand http://ebx.sh/1iWB9uS
PETALING JAYA – The rabies infections in the north likely came from neighbouring Thailand since the infections are concentrated in Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
Nineteen dogs were found with rabies from 64 tested in Perlis as of yesterday; 17 were infected from 31 checked in Kedah; while three out of 15 tested in Penang were rabid.
The Veterinary Services Department said infected dogs could have brought the viral disease into Malaysia which has been rabies-free since 1999.
However, its deputy director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam declined to name the country that the infected dogs could have come from.
“We were free from rabies but the disease still occurs in a neighbouring country,” was all he would say.
He said it was standard procedure to vaccinate dogs against rabies at the border but these areas were quite porous and an infected animal likely got past.
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Malaysiakini
Sheltering 600 dogs, Mak Intan set to face rabies
Although Kedah has been declared as a rabies-infected area, animal lover Halijah Idris, 68, better known as Mak Intan, has made early preparations to face the outbreak.
Mak Intan, who is continuing the struggle of her late husband Muhammad Azmi Isma (Pak Mie), in taking care of more than 600 stray dogs on the government reserve land, 500 metres from behind Taman Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Tanjung Bendahara in Alor Setar, is convinced that the disease can be avoided by adopting intensive care and prevention practices.
When met by reporters at her stray dogs shelter, Mak Intan was seen busy giving antibiotics to the dogs and cleaning the dogs’ food and drink containers.
She said two weeks before the announcement, several of her late husband’s friends from Thailand had informed her about the epidemic which was expected to spread to the northern states of the peninsula.
However, she said, all the dogs were being closely monitored by her, including by checking the body temperature of each dog and giving early vaccines to prevent various diseases including rabies.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/312809
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New Straits Times Rabies outbreak declared in Perlis, Kedah & Penang; Wild dogs found positive with virus: Vet Dept #nst170
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CDC – Rabies – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.
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18 September 2015
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玻璃市的瘋狗症疫情在不足兩個月時間蔓延至檳城，北海波各先那一名44歲成人及檳島西南區雙溪檳榔港口一名11歲兒童，分別在9月14日及9月15日確診感染瘋狗症。為防止瘋狗症肆虐，檳州政府下令捕殺全檳約2萬5000只野狗，一隻不少。
http://bit.ly/1OgK1rX
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17 September 2015
Free Malaysia Today
Three states declared rabies-infected areas
Twenty-two people were bitten by stray dogs in Perlis, five in Kedah and two in Penang.
TAIPING: Perlis, Kedah and Penang have been declared as rabies-infected areas after more than 20 cases of rabies in humans were reported in the states.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said dog owners in the three states should ensure that their pets were licensed and vaccinated.
The minister said this after visiting the family of fisherman, Low Tze Kian, who died on August 24 while fishing, at Kampung Telok Kertang, here today.
Ahmad Shabery said 200 Veterinary Services Department personnel had been deployed to help monitor and control the situation in the three states.
“The department had also instructed its personnel to catch dogs which are unlicensed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Veterinary Services deputy director-general (Development) Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said 22 people were reported to have been bitten by stray dogs in Perlis, five in Kedah and two in Penang.
“A total of 82 brain samples of dogs, 65 of which were from Perlis and 17 in Kedah, have been tested and 25 of them were tested positive for rabies,” he said.
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Penang declares all-out war on rabies
malaysiakini.com Penang declares all-out war on rabies https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/312601
Penang has launched an all-out war against rabies by enforcing the Rabies Disease Gazette on Sept 15, a ruling under the 1953 Animal Act.
State executive councillor on health Dr Afif Bahardin said the state’s move comes in wake of the disease detected in Perlis on Aug 17 and confirmed by Veterinary Research Institute. It has now spread to Penang.
He said Penang together with State Veterinary Services Department, State Health Department, Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai Municipal Council, have jointly formed the Rabies Disease Control Committee on Aug 19, after the Perlis incident.
The committee began its work yesterday to rid Penang off the rabies disease, he revealed.
Afif advised dog owners to keep their dogs at home and vaccinate them against the disease.
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“All stray dogs in Penang will be caught, and eliminated to prevent any possibility of the disease spreading, until we have this disease under control,” he added.
“We don’t want the public to have the perception that they can play with stray dogs without getting infected. The disease can be transmitted through saliva also,” he warned.
Asked if animal welfare organisations have been consulted about the matter, Afif said yes.
“We have met them this morning. They understand the situation, they are trying to be supportive, our agencies will ensure their work is done in a proper manner,” he said.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/312601
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theSundaily
Two cases cause Penang to be declared a rabies-infected zone
Last updated on 17 September 2015 – 06:27pm
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has been declared a rabies-infected zone after two cases were reported in North Seberang Prai and Kuala Sungai Pinang in Balik Pulau.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Veterinary Services Department has been authorised to catch and put stray dogs to sleep to curb the spread of the disease in the state.
He said the Rabies-Infected Area (State of Penang) Order 2015 has been gazetted under Subsection 42(4) Animal Act 1953 (Act 647) to allow a state health department director to execute the order.
State Health committee chairman Dr. Afif Bahardin said the two cases involving a 44-year-old man and a 12-year-old primary school student who were bitten by stray dogs came to light on Monday.
” We have confirmed the two rabies cases in the state, ” he told a press conference, accompanied by Lim.
He said on Aug 17 the Veterinary Research Institute confirmed one case in Perlis followed by the two cases in Penang.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1556388?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
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檳城證實有兩起瘋狗症患者，分別在北海及西南區雙溪檳榔港口。
州政府下指令緊急捕殺全檳野狗！
（請留意本報進一步的報導）
Penang confirmed that the two cases of rabies patients, respectively, in the north sea and the Southwest Region Double Creek Betel Nut Port.
The State government under the directive emergency cull all no gambling machine and hyenas!
(please refer to the release of the further story)
weehingthong 
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