Picture courtesy of Naewna

Thailand has recorded its first confirmed rabies death of 2026, with a 36-year-old Myanmar man dying in Rayong after being bitten by a puppy. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) confirmed the fatality on 13 February 2026, following an earlier situation alert issued on 25 January. Officials urged the public to seek immediate medical care and complete the full course of rabies vaccination after any dog or cat bite, scratch or saliva contact with an open wound.

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According to Dr Montien Kanasawat, Director-General of the DDC, the man began showing symptoms on 23 January 2026, including chest tightness after drinking water, breathing difficulty and dizziness. He died on 25 January 2026. Disease investigation found he had been bitten on the right palm by a puppy of unknown ownership in December 2025, did not clean the wound and did not seek medical treatment or vaccination.

The puppy later disappeared and its health status could not be determined. Authorities therefore could not confirm whether the animal had shown symptoms or remained alive after the incident.

Rabies remains present in animals across Thailand, particularly in the eastern, north-eastern and southern regions. In 2025, seven rabies deaths were reported in Chon Buri, Tak, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chachoengsao and Rayong. All victims had failed to seek medical attention after being bitten and therefore did not receive post-exposure vaccination, with more than half infected by owned dogs.

Officials stressed that rabies is a year-round zoonotic disease transmitted through saliva from infected mammals via bites, scratches or contact with broken skin. The average incubation period ranges from two weeks to two months, though it can extend to one year depending on the site and amount of virus exposure. Once symptoms appear, including fever, headache, severe itching at the wound site, agitation, fear of light or wind, and difficulty swallowing, the disease is invariably almost always fatal.

Dr Direk Khampaen, Deputy Director-General of the DDC, advised pet owners to vaccinate dogs and cats for the first time at two to four months of age and to repeat vaccination annually. Owners should not allow pets to roam freely without a leash and must report animals that become unusually aggressive, lethargic or die unexpectedly to local livestock officials.

Naewna reported that members of the public are advised to follow the guidance: wash the wound thoroughly, apply antiseptic, confine the animal if possible, see a doctor immediately and complete the full vaccination schedule. Further information is available via the DDC hotline 1422.

Key Takeaways

• A 36-year-old Myanmar man in Rayong died on 25 January 2026 after failing to seek treatment for a puppy bite.

• Thailand recorded seven rabies deaths in 2025, all linked to not receiving post-exposure vaccination.

• Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop but preventable through prompt wound care and full vaccination.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now Naewna 14 Feb 2026

Unnecessary death! Everyone knows that you seek immediate help if you get bitten by an animal.