SIBU: The biennial Conference on Zoonotic and Tropical Diseases has been described as a vital initiative to boost preparedness in dealing with the spread of infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Prof Dr. Sim Kui Hian, emphasised that zoonotic diseases—those originating from animals—such as HIV and COVID-19, have shown how serious the risk of transmission can be and should not be taken lightly.

“In Sarawak, we’ve seen the impact of monkey malaria transmitted through mosquitoes, which proves that such threats are very real. That’s why we established the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), costing over RM200 million. It is the first of its kind in Malaysia and was built as part of our readiness for any eventuality,” he said.

He made these remarks when officiating the 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Zoonotic and Neglected Tropical Diseases 2025, held here on Thursday.

Dr. Sim added that climate change has increased the risk of tropical diseases spreading to other countries, making international cooperation and knowledge-sharing all the more important.

Sarawak is currently collaborating with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta to gain expert support, enabling local personnel to be trained and laboratories to function more efficiently.

Commenting on the ongoing threat of rabies, Dr. Sim stressed that pet owners must take greater responsibility in ensuring their animals are properly vaccinated.

“Vaccination rates for dogs in border areas have reached 80 per cent, but in urban areas, many still take it for granted. Rabies can be eliminated if everyone plays their part,” he said. -UKASnews