Pet lovers in Bangkok warned of rabies

BANGKOK, August 4 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has warned pet lovers, particularly in the capital, to take precaution, after a rabbit was recently tested positive for rabies. Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukavejworakit told reporters on Saturday about the recent death of a rabbit caused by rubies in the capital's Chom Thong district, and that the BMA has sent officials to vaccinate pets around 5-kilometer radius within the scene. However, Dr. Malinee said the public should not panic, reasoning although rabies could cause death, the disease is not lethal for all. Dr. Malinee revealed that the BMA has also coordinated with the Department of Livestock Development in closely monitoring pet shops in the district and other areas, and that pet stores have also been told to sell disease-free pets to their customers. The deputy Bangkok governor also urged the public to always wash their hands after contacting with any animal, recommending if they are bitten, they must wash their wound with soap and water and clean them with 70 per cent alcohol and go to see a doctor to receive rabies and tetanus vaccines. According to the deputy Bangkok governor, rabies can transmit from animals to humans, commonly by bites of infected animals or by contacts with their saliva. Common carriers of rabies in Thailand are dogs, rabbits, cats, hamsters, squirrels, rabbits and bats; while common symptoms of rabies include low-grade fever, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, and stomachache. (TNA)