Health warning as rabies spreads rapidly

[rooster59]

Health warning as rabies spreads rapidly

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

RABIES has spread rapidly, albeit silently, in many provinces of Thailand, with 271 confirmed cases of infection in animals nationwide as of yesterday – just 55 days into the New Year.

 

This number already surpasses the total number of rabies cases in the entire year of 2014.

 

According to real-time rabies infection statistics reported at Thairabies.net, the rabies outbreak is most serious in the Lower North Eastern Region, while dogs were the most common animals to be infected.

 

It was reported that Roi Et has the highest rabies infection rate in the country, with 65 cases so far this year – almost three times the number of cases in Surin, which had the second highest number of rabies infections, 24.

 

The Eastern provinces of Chon Buri and Prachinburi and Southern province of Songkhla also had relatively high numbers of rabies cases.

 

The Livestock Development Department’s Disease Control and Veterinary Services Bureau director, Wiriya Kaewthong, said the major rabies outbreak was caused by the breakdown of herd immunity due to the lower rate of rabies vaccinations in 2014 and 2015. This reduced the overall rabies immunisation rate in the dog and cat populations to below 80 per cent.

 

“The collapse of herd immunity significantly increased the infection rate among the unimmunised animals and we started to notice an increase of rabies cases since 2016. But it is during these recent months that the rabies infection rate has sharply risen,” Wiriya said.

 

He said the major reason for the lower rabies vaccination rate four years ago was a vaccine shortage due to a procurement problem.

 

However, he insisted that this problem had been solved and the authorities currently had enough rabies vaccine.

 

“Although we no longer have a problem with vaccine availability, there are still many factors that contribute to the spreading of rabies, such as the lack of awareness among dog owners who often neglect to immunise their pets,” Wiriya said.

 

“Stray dogs are also a big problem, as many of these dogs have no one to take care of them, vaccinate them, and control their population.”

Therefore, he said, the Livestock Development Department has asked local authorities to survey and register stray dogs and cats in their locality, and dispatch local volunteers and veterinary teams to vaccinate and sterilise the stray dogs.

 

As a short-term measure to deter outbreaks of rabies, the department has asked the Local Administration Department to implement a 5-kilometre radius quarantine zone in areas found to be infected. 

 

Dogs are not allowed to leave or enter the quarantine zone unless officers give their permission. Animals suspected of being infected will be quarantined for at least six months, and all cats and dogs within the zone will have to be vaccinated.

 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease and it can infect many species of mammals, including humans. Domesticated dogs contribute up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans.

 

WHO said rabies is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms, so the best prevention methods are to vaccinate dogs and avoid dog bites.

 

Dr Sopon Iamsirithawon, the Disease Control Department’s Vector Borne Diseases Bureau director, said a total of 14 people had died from rabies last year, with one death already this year. He said people should be concerned about rabies and learn how to protect themselves.

 

“There is still the misunderstanding among the public that rabies can be cured, but actually once the patient shows symptoms, it is already too late and death is guaranteed,” Sophon said.

 

He said the rabies virus normally has an incubation period within humans of between one and three months. Anybody who is bitten by an infected animal should clean the wound and find a doctor to get the vaccine as soon as possible.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339618

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-25

[cooked]

We have seven dogs. Can we vaccinate at home?

The wife says the local farm store sells vaccine, but it isn't stored in a fridge, I am doubtful about that..?

 

Edited February 24, 2018 by cooked

[edwinchester]

46 minutes ago, cooked said:

We have seven dogs. Can we vaccinate at home?

The wife says the local farm store sells vaccine, but it isn't stored in a fridge, I am doubtful about that..?

 

Where we live, Kanchanaburi, it is possible to buy and administer the vaccine yourself.

Also, from time to time, local administrations offer free vaccinations of animals so worth asking at your local Orbitor if they run a similar scheme.

[khwaibah]

43 minutes ago, cooked said:

We have seven dogs. Can we vaccinate at home?

The wife says the local farm store sells vaccine, but it isn't stored in a fridge, I am doubtful about that..?

 

 

In Kap Choeng they keep a list and they come by about twice a year.  You could check with.

Surin Livestock Breeding and Research Center Na Bua Surin Thailand. 

Surin Livestock Breeding And Research Center is situated in , Thailand, Listed address is in Surin, and phone number 044-512 828, Services include Government Offices. For inquiry please contact Surin Livestock Breeding And Research Center directly at 90 Moo 9, Surin - Prasat Road, Tambon Na Bua, Amphoe Mueang, ..

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Domesticated dogs contribute up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans.

Rabies is almost always fatal.  What manner of numpty takes a disease spreading; accident-causing; oxygen thief into his own home in Thailand?

[Tilacme]

1 hour ago, cooked said:

We have seven dogs. Can we vaccinate at home?

The wife says the local farm store sells vaccine, but it isn't stored in a fridge, I am doubtful about that..?

 

Our local vet came round last night and gave the dog his annual vaccinations.  One jab includes rabies, parvovirus, leptospirosis etc.  It cost 250bt.  We were told to expect him to be a bit down today but he is bright eyed and bushy tailed as usual.

[blackcab]

1 hour ago, cooked said:

The wife says the local farm store sells vaccine, but it isn't stored in a fridge, I am doubtful about that..?

 

It needs to be refrigerated:

 

http://infovets.com/books/Canine/C/C701.htm

[cooked]

19 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Rabies is almost always fatal.  What manner of numpty takes a disease spreading; accident-causing; oxygen thief into his own home in Thailand?

So basically, people with dogs are numpties? 

Maybe you just don't like dogs.

I had dogs and cats for 60 years, 30 of which were in a rabies infected area and never heard of a case of rabies. The only case I know of was caused by a cow. Our dogs don't mix with other dogs, all safely fenced and gated, Thanks for your advice antway.

[stanleycoin]

Time to cull the wild dog population of Thailand.

85% dead would be good, and remove the balls on  the other 15%

 

I love dogs,  but not that much in Thailand . 

 

 

[mikebell]

23 minutes ago, cooked said:

Maybe you just don't like dogs.

I like every dog with no vocal chords and in particular those without a hole in their bottom.  Apart from working dogs the rest should be shipped to Cambodia - at least they'll serve some usual purpose there.

[overherebc]

4 minutes ago, mikebell said:

I like every dog with no vocal chords and in particular those without a hole in their bottom.  Apart from working dogs the rest should be shipped to Cambodia - at least they'll serve some usual purpose there.

Ship all the expats with extreme views along with the dogs as they don't serve any purpose here.

[impulse]

32 minutes ago, mikebell said:

I like every dog with no vocal chords and in particular those without a hole in their bottom.  Apart from working dogs the rest should be shipped to Cambodia - at least they'll serve some usual purpose there.

 

In my apartment complex in China, just about every apartment without a dog has been burglarized- often at night with the people asleep.  None of those  with dogs have been successfully broken into.  Coincidence?  I think not. 

 

I'm not sure how removing their vocal chords would serve to protect my loved ones when I'm gone or asleep.

 

 

[mikebell]

33 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Ship all the expats with extreme views along with the dogs as they don't serve any purpose here.

A lot of ex-pats hate what Thailand has done to dogs; the ex-pats marry; pay for Thai children to go through college; do volunteer work.

Only doting dog-owners cannot see the damage dogs do.

[Prairieboy]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Dogs are not allowed to leave or enter the quarantine zone unless officers give their permission. Animals suspected of being infected will be quarantined for at least six months, and all cats and dogs within the zone will have to be vaccinated.

Who will bother asking permission from the officers on behalf of the stray dogs since, at least in our village, most dogs run uncontrolled.  

[Dmaxdan]

Our local authorities have recently offered free Rabies vaccinations which we took advantage of for our dog. In past years there has always been a small subsidized charge for this, but clearly this year there seems to be more concern and therefore no charge.

[worgeordie]

 Animal owners that take no responsibly at all,it only

costs 70 THB to get our cat inoculated every year,

the problem is responsibility + Thailand is an oxymoron. 

a little bit time and little bit of money would help solve

the problem,but that seems too much to ask.for many.

 

regards worgeordie

[humbug]

14 minutes ago, mikebell said:

A lot of ex-pats hate what Thailand has done to dogs; the ex-pats marry; pay for Thai children to go through college; do volunteer work.

Only doting dog-owners cannot see the damage dogs do.

stop lying you just being a troll and a control freak whose only weapon is behind a keyboard. Defo scared of your own shadow

 

i keep caring for animals whatever the intimidation articles are thrown out there to blame the voiceless when humans who have diseased this planet.

[Sonhia]

Stricter control of dogs is much needed. Owners should be held accountable for their dog/s. One dog per premises. Stray dogs rounded up. Dogs wear a mussel, are licensed and kept on leads when in public. Schools should get rid of dogs within school premises. Half yearly health checks be carried out on all dogs.

 

Simple and effective measures could be taken, but as always, blinkered,, narrow and fickle minded individuals with no critical thinking mind-set ability, will no doubt turn a blind eye, exposing the dangers to the general public. I like dogs, but consider them dangerous animals, and would never keep one as a pet. 

 

T I uncaring T

[islandguy]

13 minutes ago, Sonhia said:

Stricter control of dogs is much needed. Owners should be held accountable for their dog/s. One dog per premises. Stray dogs rounded up. Dogs wear a mussel, are licensed and kept on leads when in public. Schools should get rid of dogs within school premises. Half yearly health checks be carried out on all dogs.

 

Simple and effective measures could be taken, but as always, blinkered,, narrow and fickle minded individuals with no critical thinking mind-set ability, will no doubt turn a blind eye, exposing the dangers to the general public. I like dogs, but consider them dangerous animals, and would never keep one as a pet. 

 

T I uncaring T

 

[islandguy]

? the joy of predi Clive text! ?

[pedro01]

Time for a nationwide cull

[overherebc]

43 minutes ago, mikebell said:

A lot of ex-pats hate what Thailand has done to dogs; the ex-pats marry; pay for Thai children to go through college; do volunteer work.

Only doting dog-owners cannot see the damage dogs do.

Only stupid dog owners cause problems.

Owners who walk dogs on a lead, keep them controlled and clean up after their dogs don't do any damage. 

The biggest problem is the stray dog problem.

Any dog on the street without a collar should be picked up and held for a week and if not claimed in a week then put to sleep. It wouldn't take longer than a few months before the vast majority of disease ridden dogs are gone. Spaying dogs and then releasing them again does nothing to help now. It will take a long time as most of them are replaced by new dogs let loose on a never ending circle. I'm not going to state who is to blame for it.

[VocalNeal]

12 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Any dog on the street without a collar should be picked up and held for a week and if not claimed in a week then put to sleep.

Whilst it sounds like a sound plan you are obviously not Buddhist. Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country where to kill anything is a sin. The reason the dogs are who and where they are is because of who or what they did in a previous life. 

 

Maybe not logical for a non Buddhist, non Thai, to understand but it is their country and their laws and customs.

If your plan was put into action you would soon find a whole lot of stray dogs with collars (which cost 20Baht) 

Edited February 25, 2018 by VocalNeal

[overherebc]

13 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Whilst it sounds like a sound plan you are obviously not Buddhist. Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country where to kill anything is a sin. The reason the dogs are who and where they are is because of who or what they did in a previous life. 

 

Maybe not logical for a non Buddhist, non Thai, to understand but it is their country and their laws and customs.

If your plan was put into action you would soon find a whole lot of stray dogs with collars (which cost 20Baht) 

20 baht collars, true. ?

Just pick up the dog anyway and if there is a tag tell the owner he can get his dog back for 1000 baht that would cover the dogs spaying done in the dog pound whether the owner wanted it done or not.

Nothing dies and money changes hands, sounds quite fitting to me.

[300sd]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Rabies is almost always fatal.  What manner of numpty takes a disease spreading; accident-causing; oxygen thief into his own home in Thailand?

Perhaps more of us numpties should consider taking oxygen thieves into our homes, then we would always have a faithful companion, get more dogs off the street and care for them better then before. May make the person feel better also. I know I do.

[overherebc]

12 minutes ago, 300sd said:

Perhaps more of us numpties should consider taking oxygen thieves into our homes, then we would always have a faithful companion, get more dogs off the street and care for them better then before. May make the person feel better also. I know I do.

I always fall back on the old story of shut your wife and your dog in car boots/trunks for 20 minutes. When you open them up which one will be pleased to see you.

Edited February 25, 2018 by overherebc

[giddyup]

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

Rabies is almost always fatal.  What manner of numpty takes a disease spreading; accident-causing; oxygen thief into his own home in Thailand?

A responsible dog owner who has their pet full vaccinated, that's who.

[RichardColeman]

Still be some numpty on here spreading the word about the generosity of feeding the poor soi dogs that the Cambodians have unfortunately not got round to eating yet.

[johng]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

If your plan was put into action you would soon find a whole lot of stray dogs with collars

Most all of them in my neighborhood have collars on   but no owner present....so really it needs to be any dog out in public that is not accompanied by its owner should be rounded up.

[stanleycoin]

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

 

Owners who walk dogs on a lead, keep them controlled and clean up after their dogs don't do any damage. 

 

I see these people everyday in Thailand.