The number of dog bite cases in Penang, Perlis and Kedah has risen from 68 yesterday to 82 as of 2pm today

Penang has the highest number with 38 followed by Perlis (29) and Kedah (15).

A Veterinary Services Department (VSD) statement said 2,257 dogs had been culled since the three states were gazetted as rabies infected on Sept 17.

Three cases have been reported in Penang as of Sept 20 with five in Kedah and 22 in Perlis as of Sept 19.

A total of 1,618 dogs were culled in Kedah, 342 in Penang and 297 in Perlis while the number of dogs vaccinated rose from 2 286 yesterday to 2,433 today.

The VSD encourages owners to confine their dogs to their house compounds and to improve their immunity level.

It also controls the population of stray dogs while continuing to monitor the situation in the three states, especially dog bite cases .

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by the Lyssavirus which can infect humans following bites from rabies infected dogs.

It can also infect humans via skin which is exposed to saliva, body fluid or tissue from rabies infected animals.

Those infected with rabies will experience symptoms such as fever, body ache and headache, hydrophobia, paralysis and coma.

The disease can also cause death in humans if not treated immediately.

For queries on rabies call the VSD headquarters at 03-8870204, 03-88702053 and 03-88702062 or any state VSD office.

- Bernama