The Health Ministry is closely monitoring the 68 people who were vaccinated in Serian, Sarawak for dog bites since April in its battle to contain the rabies outbreak.

"If they have the history of dog bites, we will monitor them besides giving them the vaccine. The number of those bitten by dogs is quite small, (only) 68," said Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

Both the domesticated dogs and stray mutts within the 10km radius of the outbreak will also be vaccinated by the Sarawak Veterinary Department, he added.

"No signs of new cases being detected. But it is too early for us to say there will not be any new cases as the incubation period is quite long."

According to Subramaniam, it is suspected that the rabies outbreak could have been transmitted from Kalimantan, Indonesia, where infected dogs entered the state through the forest.

"We suspect this is due to the serious outbreak in Kalimantan. They have this in their history.

"This is my view, human beings and dogs can enter our borders," he said. 

Similarly, the northern states in Peninsular Malaysia suffered rabies outbreak last year transmitted from a neighbouring country, he noted. 

"Dogs infected by rabies even came to Penang from Kedah and Perlis."

Dog owners, particularly from Serian district, should send their dogs for treatment if the pets acted aggressively, he said. 

The recent outbreak has claimed two lives, while another child is critically ill.

The two deceased are a four-year-old boy and his seven-year-old sister who hailed from Kampong Paon, Sungai Rimu, Serian.

The children were warded on June 9 and June 12 respectively, while the third victim - a seven-year-old girl from Kampung Lebur, Gedung, developed a fever on June 23.

A total of 68 dog bite cases were detected in the Serian District between April 1 and July 4.

As of today, health teams have visited and reviewed 19 villages, 2,098 households and 6,094 people.