Photo of Dr Phanumart Yanawetaskul courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Thailand faces a troubling surge in rabies-related fatalities, with deaths tripling compared to last year.

 

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported that this year has seen seven deaths from rabies across Chon Buri, Sisaket, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima, Tak, and Rayong. The increase has triggered concerns about public awareness and animal vaccination practices.

 

Dr Phanumart Yanawetaskul, DDC's Director General, disclosed that 90% of these infections were contracted from dogs and 10% from cats. The Department of Livestock Development recorded 164 rabies-positive animals, highlighting a growing issue.

 

Provinces most affected include Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Songkhla, Surin, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Mukdahan.

 

Dr Phanumart emphasised the importance of immediate action after exposure — washing wounds thoroughly, seeking medical help, and adhering to the rabies vaccination schedule are critical steps to prevent fatal outcomes. Wounds should be cleaned with soap and water for 10–15 minutes, followed by antiseptic use. Medical advice must be sought to initiate a full vaccination course. Animals involved should be monitored for ten days.

 

The rise in rabies cases is attributed to several factors: unvaccinated pets, improper wound care, and adopting stray animals without understanding the risks. Self-administered vaccines by pet owners may compromise effectiveness, resulting in lower than desired vaccination coverage. Unsupervised pets risk exposure to rabid animals, exacerbating the problem.

 

Public health officials urge the public to take rabies seriously and follow preventative measures. Annual vaccinations for pets by qualified veterinarians are crucial for maintaining effective immunity.

 

Dr Phanumart's key message to individuals bitten by potentially rabid animals is clear: wash, medicate, isolate, consult, and vaccinate.

 

For more information or assistance, contact the Department of Disease Control through their hotline at 1422. The urgency of this public health issue cannot be overstated, and community vigilance is vital in combating the spread of rabies and safeguarding lives.

 

In a climate where rabies remains a prevalent threat, taking swift and informed action can prevent further tragedies. The ability to recognise potential risks and respond appropriately lies at the heart of controlling this deadly disease.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-08

 

 

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

Why aren't people/children given the preventative vaccine before they are bitten/scratched?

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

What do extremists do when surviving goes against their beliefs lol

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

Define anti vaxxer?

 

One that does not take any vaccine, or one that does not take a particular vaccine ?

 

You seem to be if you aren't with us, you must be against us. 

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

 

Very good point, with the resent threads on this forum. 

But we know the answer to that one. 

 

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

I've never bothered, but did notice the story has no actual numbers of deaths.

Which makes me think there are so few that it's just another disease scare story.

 

My pal was bitten by a dog while walking near wat doing Suthep two months back, he didn't bother either.

4 minutes ago, sungod said:

Define anti vaxxer?

 

One that does not take any vaccine, or one that does not take a particular vaccine ?

 

You seem to be if you aren't with us, you must be against us. 

 

I'm referring to a handful of folk on this forum who are 100% against ALL vaccines...   any...  and that goes for Measles (MMR), Polio etc...   (so not just a covid vax discussion - which again is separate conversation, but also somewhat based around the hysteria of the anti-vax movement)....

 

And yes, as far as tested and proven vaccines are concerned... if someone is anti-vaccination, be it Rabies, Polio, MMR etc... then I am most definitely not with you, and by very definition, against you (and whoever the 'us' is you refer to).

 

 

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm referring to a handful of folk on this forum who are 100% against ALL vaccines...   any...  and that goes for Measles (MMR), Polio etc...   (so not just a covid vax discussion - which again is separate conversation, but also somewhat based around the hysteria of the anti-vax movement)....

 

And yes, as far as tested and proven vaccines are concerned... if someone is anti-vaccination, be it Rabies, Polio, MMR etc... then I am most definitely not with you, and by very definition, against you (and whoever the 'us' is you refer to).

 

 

Fair enough, I'd go with 100% against all vaccines are anti vax.

 

Have you had a monkey pox jab, its tried and tested, monkey pox can kill you. 

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm referring to a handful of folk on this forum who are 100% against ALL vaccines...   any...  and that goes for Measles (MMR), Polio etc...   (so not just a covid vax discussion - which again is separate conversation, but also somewhat based around the hysteria of the anti-vax movement)....

 

And yes, as far as tested and proven vaccines are concerned... if someone is anti-vaccination, be it Rabies, Polio, MMR etc... then I am most definitely not with you, and by very definition, against you (and whoever the 'us' is you refer to).

 

 

Does this include JFK junior?

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I've never bothered, but did notice the story has no actual numbers of deaths.

Which makes me think there are so few that it's just another disease scare story.

 

There has been a threefold increase in reported rabies cases in cats and dogs compared to last year.

 

Seven rabies-related deaths have occurred so far this year – all of them entirely preventable with prompt medical treatment and the rabies vaccine.

 

Is this just another scare story? Perhaps. But more importantly, it's a timely reminder: if you're bitten by an unknown animal, seek medical attention immediately and get the rabies shot. It could save your life.

 

No doubt someone will try to draw a clumsy comparison between rabies fatalities and road deaths – but that misses the point entirely. The existence of one risk doesn't negate the importance of addressing another.

 

... and as far as dogs are concerned, that means dealing with strays too....

 

 

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

There has been a threefold increase in reported rabies cases in cats and dogs compared to last year.

 

Seven rabies-related deaths have occurred so far this year – all of them entirely preventable with prompt medical treatment and the rabies vaccine.

 

Is this just another scare story? Perhaps. But more importantly, it's a timely reminder: if you're bitten by an unknown animal, seek medical attention immediately and get the rabies shot. It could save your life.

 

No doubt someone will try to draw a clumsy comparison between rabies fatalities and road deaths – but that misses the point entirely. The existence of one risk doesn't negate the importance of addressing another.

 

... and as far as dogs are concerned, that means dealing with strays too....

 

 

Have you had Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis? 

4 minutes ago, sungod said:

Fair enough, I'd go with 100% against all vaccines are anti vax.

 

Have you had a monkey pox jab, its tried and tested, monkey pox can kill you. 

 

The JYNNEOS vaccine can be taken up to 4 days after exposure to Monkey Pox to prevent onset of the disease and  between 5 to 14 days it may not prevent infection, but can reduce severity of symptoms.

 

Thus: just like Rabies, post 'exposure medical care' in the way of a vaccine prevents severity of symtoms.

 

For a 'regular person' the JYNNEOS vaccine is unnecessary as the risk of exposure is so low.

For 'high risk' individuals, such as, Healthcare workers handling mpox patients, lab staff, contact tracers etc, then it might be advised that they take the vaccine.

 

The same could be argued of those who handle stray dogs or work in high-risk environments, they should seriously consider getting a pre-exposure rabies vaccination, but its not necessary for the general population.

 

6 minutes ago, sungod said:

Have you had Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis? 

 

Answered above already: Its not necessary for the general population...  So no.

 

But, if I were bitten by an unknown dog or stray cat etc... then of course, I'd get the vaccine.

 

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

The same could be argued of those who handle stray dogs or work in high-risk environments, they should seriously consider getting a pre-exposure rabies vaccination, but its not necessary for the general population.

 

 

The crux of the matter boils down to three factors: the contagiousness of the illness, its prevalence in a given area, and our individual risk of exposure.

 

For instance, I wouldn’t bother with an influenza vaccine if I were staying in Thailand and going about my daily routine during the winter months. However, if I were travelling to the UK or Europe, I'd get vaccinated - I wouldn’t want a bout of flu to spoil several days of my holiday. The chances of catching flu on the flight or in crowded places like UK pubs or busy city areas are far higher.

 

Similarly, if I were bitten by a dog in the UK, I would be less inclined to seek rabies vaccination, given that rabies is not present there. That said, I would still seek medical advice for other potential risks such as bacterial infections.

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Seven rabies-related deaths have occurred so far this year – all of them entirely preventable with prompt medical treatment and the rabies vaccine.

7 a year from rabies Vs 30 a day from rtas.

Seems the money would be better spent reducing traffic deaths.

 

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Answered above already: Its not necessary for the general population...  So no.

 

But, if I were bitten by an unknown dog or stray cat etc... then of course, I'd get the vaccine.

 

 

So, we'd agree that any 'regular person' who is not affected by something such as covid, is not anti vax? 

 

But high risk individuals should take the vaccine? 

 

I'd go with that. 

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Seven rabies-related deaths have occurred so far this year – all of them entirely preventable with prompt medical treatment and the rabies vaccine.

7 a year from rabies Vs 30 a day from rtas.

Seems the money would be better spent reducing traffic deaths.

 

In anticipation the predictably foolish response typical of this forum, I'd handled that point already (see below).

The existence of one issue in no way justifies ignoring another - both can and should be dealt with.

 

 

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

No doubt someone will try to draw a clumsy comparison between rabies fatalities and road deaths – but that misses the point entirely. The existence of one risk doesn't negate the importance of addressing another.

 

too bad culling stray dogs, especially aggressive strays, is not widely practised. I understand it is possible to catch rabies even from dog licks.

4 minutes ago, sungod said:

So, we'd agree that any 'regular person' who is not affected by something such as covid, is not anti vax? 

 

But high risk individuals should take the vaccine? 

 

I'd go with that. 

 

Agreed. I concur that older adults, those with comorbidities, and individuals deemed high-risk should follow medical advice and receive COVID vaccines, alongside their seasonal influenza shots.

 

(I’m not looking to reopen the COVID vaccine debate, but it’s worth noting that at the start of the pandemic, when vaccines first became available, there was considerable uncertainty about who exactly was ‘at risk.’ At that time, I was comfortable taking the vaccine as a precaution. However, given my current circumstances, I now feel it unnecessary for myself. Were I over 65 and travelling, though, I would likely choose to receive it.).

 

 

2 minutes ago, bg53 said:

too bad culling stray dogs, especially aggressive strays, is not widely practised

 

That would solve a lot of the problem... 

 

It was announced (in May) that Bangkok was setting new pet ownership rules to curb stray animals....  

 

... of course, that was just an announcement - nothing has happened since !!...   nevertheless, this should be a national policy - remove all strays from the streets and beaches.

 

 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Agreed. I concur that older adults, those with comorbidities, and individuals deemed high-risk should follow medical advice and receive COVID vaccines, alongside their seasonal influenza shots.

 

(I’m not looking to reopen the COVID vaccine debate, but it’s worth noting that at the start of the pandemic, when vaccines first became available, there was considerable uncertainty about who exactly was ‘at risk.’ At that time, I was comfortable taking the vaccine as a precaution. However, given my current circumstances, I now feel it unnecessary for myself. Were I over 65 and travelling, though, I would likely choose to receive it.).

 

 

 

Fair point, I think that its important that people should not be labeled ant vax just because they make their own informed decisions such as you and I and countless others have done. 

33 minutes ago, still kicking said:

37 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'm referring to a handful of folk on this forum who are 100% against ALL vaccines...   any...  and that goes for Measles (MMR), Polio etc...   (so not just a covid vax discussion - which again is separate conversation, but also somewhat based around the hysteria of the anti-vax movement)....

 

And yes, as far as tested and proven vaccines are concerned... if someone is anti-vaccination, be it Rabies, Polio, MMR etc... then I am most definitely not with you, and by very definition, against you (and whoever the 'us' is you refer to).

 

 

Does this include JFK junior?

 

 

This can be discussed in the 'off the beaten path' sub-forum... where there are also discussions regarding whether or not the moon-landings were faked, if the earth is flat rather than an oblate spheroid etc take place.

 

 

But... Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s record indicates that he is anti-vaccine, not merely anti-COVID vaccine - I believe its important for transparency, so I don't think anyone should be against independent, unbiased, transparent and open investigations into the safety and effectiveness all vaccines and any other matter of public health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, sungod said:

Fair point, I think that its important that people should not be labeled ant vax just because they make their own informed decisions such as you and I and countless others have done. 

 

Within this forum, there are individuals who can quite readily be classified as Anti-Vax - that is, opposed to all vaccinations.

 

The ongoing discussions in the 'Off the Beaten Path' sub-forum leave little room for doubt on this.

 

 

Keep feeding those soi dogs. 

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

it’s worth noting that at the start of the pandemic, when vaccines first became available, there was considerable uncertainty about who exactly was ‘at risk.’

No there wasn’t. That uncertainty was propagated and pushed by special interests and fed to the masses through the media via fear and hysterics. Remember clearly reading mass amounts of science journals back then, every single one that cited serious concerns were shut down and scrubbed off. And what was telling about the mass hypnotic influence is when they started poking babies with it. That period epitomized how people can be so gullible and foolish, and still with all the evidence, they persist to save face. Now that’s stupid.

51 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

I'm anti-mRNA jabs but have undergone the rabies vaccine course. Does this make me an anti-vaxxer?  

 

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why aren't people/children given the preventative vaccine before they are bitten/scratched?

Because it costs MONEY!!!!!

Typical, a very important public service thread, turns into a sh!t show.  Mind boggling.

 

And on the first reply   I think I'll stay below those provinces.  

 

And as stated in the OP, keep your pets current with their shots.  Keep them inside and leashed when outside.  Mine is never out of my sight, or runs free.  Actually more concerned about snakes, but a yearly heads up about rabes is a good thing, not that I worry about, but.

 

I may be an anti vax'er, but thankfully my dog isn't.  

 

19 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder what the Anti-vaxxers do when they are bitten ?....     one of them disbelieves Rabies Virus is even a virus and that it does not even exist...   

 

I'm anti-mRNA jabs but have undergone the rabies vaccine course. Does this make me an anti-vaxxer?  

 

 

No... It just makes you someone who commented without reading any other part of this thread !!!  

9 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why aren't people/children given the preventative vaccine before they are bitten/scratched?

Because it costs MONEY!!!!!

 

A number of reasons explain why pre-exposure rabies vaccination isn't routinely given to the general population, including children...

 

Post-exposure vaccination is effective: Rabies vaccines can be administered after a potential exposure (i.e. after a bite or scratch), and are highly effective if given promptly. This makes preemptive vaccination unnecessary in most cases.

 

Low general exposure risk: While rabies is present in Thailand, the overall prevalence is relatively low. The majority of people will never be exposed to a rabid animal, especially if they do not routinely interact with strays or wildlife.

 

Targeted vaccination for high-risk groups: Pre-exposure vaccination can be applied for people in high-risk occupations or situations - such as veterinarians, animal control staff etc... rather than the general public.

 

Transmission requires direct contact: Rabies is not airborne; it is transmitted through bites, scratches, or saliva from infected animals entering an open wound. This specific mode of transmission does not justify broad immunisation of the population.

 

Exposure events are identifiable: Unlike diseases that spread without obvious signs, rabies exposure is usually clear and tied to a specific event, such as an animal bite. This allows for swift post-exposure intervention without the need for preemptive vaccination.

 

Cost-effectiveness and logistics: Rabies vaccines are expensive, require multiple doses, and may need boosters. For a large population with low risk, routine vaccination would be economically impractical and medically unnecessary.

 

Public health strategy prioritises surveillance and rapid response: Resources are more effectively used in monitoring animal populations, controlling stray dog numbers, and ensuring access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) when needed (or rather it should !!!)