Number of rabies-infected animals rises by 1.5 times

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) – The Department of Disease Control is seriously trying to contain rabies as the number of animals infected with the disease rises by 1.5 folds year on year. Dr Suwannachai Watanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the department, said rabies became a concern as three people died of the disease in the first two months of this year and 251 animals were infected with it. The number of infected animals increases by 1.5 times and about 90% of them were dogs. Other infected animals included cats and cows. Rabies killed seven people annually in the past four years. The disease can be transmitted from animal to human and every person who is infected and shows symptoms will die. Most dead patients were bitten or scratched by their pet dogs or neighbours’ dogs that were not vaccinated. There are 7.4 million dogs in Thailand but only 23% of them were vaccinated. The Department of Livestock Development has declared 13 provinces red zones of the serious epidemic of rabies. (TNA)