Thailand Set To Be Rabies-Free Country In 2020

[webfact]

Thailand set to be rabies-free country in 2020

NONTHABURI: -- (TNA) – The Thai Ministry of Public Health said Wednesday that it planned to eliminate rabies from the country by the year 2020, comcurrent with a similar global goal, according to Deputy Minister Panasiri Kulanatsiri, who said that this it could be possible because the disease is vaccine-preventable.

Mrs Panasiri said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) jointly urged all nations to get rid of rabies by 2020. Globally, 55,000 people die annually from canine rabies.

Some 52,250 of the rabies death cases or 95 per cent occur in Asia and Africa.

In Thailand, approximate 10-20 persons die of this zoonotic viral disease each year and most victims of the dog bites are children under the age of 10, the deputy public health minister said.

Some 80 per cent of biting dogs have owners and 47 per cent of the dogs do not have vaccination history available.

Mrs Panasiri said the government had spend Bt1billion budget each year to contain and prevent rabies in human and animals but anti-viral vaccination in dogs can be administered in limitedly, lower than 80 per cent of the targeted areas.

Currently, there are an estimated eight million owned and stray dogs in Thailand.

The deputy minister expressed concern that around 90 per cent of rabies deaths were due to dogs aged less than three months, domestic or owned dogs which had not been vaccinated.

The victims often did not visit hospital for innoculations after being bitten, as they thought that the owned, domestic dogs would not be infected with the often fatal virus.

In fact, according to medical authorities, 90 per cent of the animals contracting the rabies virus are dogs. The ministry therefore urges dog owners to take their pets to receive rabies vaccines and urged people exposed to suspicious animals to see veterinarians immediately.

Disease Control Department director-general Manit Teeratantikanont meanwhile said that six people have been reported dead of rabies in Thailand since the beginning of 2010.

The six victims included three Bangkok residents, while the other three lived in Kanchanaburi, Saraburi and Samut Prakan provinces respectively.

In a bid to set up rabies-free zones, Dr Manit suggested that at least 80 per cent of dogs aged three months or more in those areas should be be vaccinated for not less than 80 per cent of the total number to prevent rabies while, the local administration offices should jointly allocate a budget and set up a vaccination programme for all dogs at least once a year.

Twelve provinces had joined the pilot rabies-free zone project this year including Nonthaburi, Samut Sakorn, Phuket, Songkhla, Rayong, Phichit, Tak, Chiang Rai, Sing Buri, Surin, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

The issue of rabies disease came into spotlight after a female official of the public health ministry who also owned a pet shop at Chatuchak weekend market, died February 14 after being bitten by one of her own dogs.

Responding to this incident, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit urged raisers of cats and dogs to have their pets vaccinated for free from Livestock Development Department. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-24

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[peecee]

Sad for the health official's family but surely she new enough to get treatment immediately following a bite from an un-vaccinated puppy!

[MUYTHAI]

Thailand might be able to "eliminate" rabies from the general Domestic Dog population, but the disease will NEVER be eliminated from the country. Rabies is hosted by and affects mammals. Species members of the orders Carnivora (Carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the main hosts/reservoirs for rabies. Primate species can also host the disease. Rabies will continue to be harboured by native Thai species of mammals such as the wild dog species (spp.) (Dholes and Golden Jackals), civet spp., badger spp., mongoose spp., linsang spp., marten spp., ferret-badger spp., otter spp., Binturong, the eight native cat species, primate species, and the many bats species. You get the point. Even if the disease is eliminated in the Domestic Dog population, the disease will contuinue to infect some of these dogs in the future due to infection from all the other native host species found within the Thai borders. Also, there are very feral Domestic Dogs that live in remote wild areas. IMHO, these individuals will not be able to be captured, killed, given vaccinations, etc. so there will still be Domestic Dog hosts existing in remote areas. But, yeah, the general population of Domestic Dogs in LOS could be "rabies-free" if there was a very good, lengthy, concerted effort to eliminate the disease. Good luck with that.

[landofthefree]

Thailand might be able to "eliminate" rabies from the general Domestic Dog population, but the disease will NEVER be eliminated from the country. Rabies is hosted by and affects mammals. Species members of the orders Carnivora (Carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the main hosts/reservoirs for rabies. Primate species can also host the disease. Rabies will continue to be harboured by native Thai species of mammals such as the wild dog species (spp.) (Dholes and Golden Jackals), civet spp., badger spp., mongoose spp., linsang spp., marten spp., ferret-badger spp., otter spp., Binturong, the eight native cat species, primate species, and the many bats species. You get the point. Even if the disease is eliminated in the Domestic Dog population, the disease will contuinue to infect some of these dogs in the future due to infection from all the other native host species found within the Thai borders. Also, there are very feral Domestic Dogs that live in remote wild areas. IMHO, these individuals will not be able to be captured, killed, given vaccinations, etc. so there will still be Domestic Dog hosts existing in remote areas. But, yeah, the general population of Domestic Dogs in LOS could be "rabies-free" if there was a very good, lengthy, concerted effort to eliminate the disease. Good luck with that.

Ive read this article very carefully and am very dissapointed that the word 'hub' wasn't used once why couldnt they have said that Thailand will become a hub for anti rabies?

[BSJ]

Hi landofthefree, don't you think it's a bit silly for you to be making light of the fact there was an oversight in the press release? Of course it will be a hub........someone from the government will be along shortly to announce it!

[givenall]

Another pipe dream and extremely rosy forecast. I don’t expect any less from the Thai government and they don’t disappoint me again

It is getting ridicules with all the dogs running free.

Oh well I guess I just I have to accept the impossible task they for sure will delive ,,, NOT

[MESmith]

All rabies infected mammals will be turned back along all the land borders

[PeaceBlondie]

Thailand has never controlled dogs. They never will.

[siampolee]

Sadly it is never going to happen the U.K. being an island has been remarkably Rabies free due as I said to being an island and indeed strict quarantine regulations as well.

There was an out break of rabies as I recall in the late 1960s ( My date may be open to dispute though) when I was around 20 ish years old.

A whole area was sealed off ( can't recall where though) and trained marksmen , gamekeepers and veterinary staff were sent in and all possible rabies carrying creatures were exterminated on sight.

Rabbit warrens, foxes dens and badger holts along with assorted other rabies carrying animal habitats were filled with gas and filled in.

Harsh measures to be sure but they worked, I can't even begin to imagine that kind of operation happening here.

Another pie in the sky scheme

[phetaroi]

Another pipe dream and extremely rosy forecast. I don’t expect any less from the Thai government and they don’t disappoint me again [/size][/font]

I don't blame anyone for skepticism, but I might point out that:

1. There's nothing wrong with setting a goal and working toward it, even if the results are less than predicted. In point of fact, that's how most things work in most countries...including whatever country you came from.

2. Individuals who post on this forum are probably -- as a group -- no more successful in their plans and decisions than any government is, and probably less so. New Years resolutions usually go down the drain within days. How many people here will "stop drinking" or "stop smoking" or "stop philandering"...only to not.

[soundman]

Ive read this article very carefully and am very dissapointed that the word 'hub' wasn't used once why couldnt they have said that Thailand will become a hub for anti rabies?

Incorrect - Thailand the hub of Rabies Free Zones or RFZ's for short.

Twelve provinces had joined the pilot rabies-free zone project this year including Nonthaburi, Samut Sakorn, Phuket, Songkhla, Rayong, Phichit, Tak, Chiang Rai, Sing Buri, Surin, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

[Moruya]

Getting all cats and dogs off the street would be a HUGE start and would cut down on a lot of hospital visits too

[elkangorito]

If Thailand (in general) would pull it's head out of the sand & stop enforcing a certain philosphy (which was not meant to be a religion), it would soon become apparent that the rules laid down in the stone age are no longer applicable in the 21st century.

The only way to control this problem is to control people with regard to dog ownership. As far as "stray" dogs are concerned, Thailand needs to embrace a similar ideal to that of the RSPCA...all strays are rounded up & kept for a limited time. During this limited time, the animals are vaccinated & cared for properly. If the animals are not claimed/sold within a certain period of time, they are humanely destroyed.

As per usual, I suspect that "Thai pride" would get in the way of ever doing something like this...although they seem quite happy to "copy" other things.

[gtm2k]

Thailand might be able to "eliminate" rabies from the general Domestic Dog population, but the disease will NEVER be eliminated from the country. Rabies is hosted by and affects mammals. Species members of the orders Carnivora (Carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the main hosts/reservoirs for rabies. Primate species can also host the disease. Rabies will continue to be harboured by native Thai species of mammals such as the wild dog species (spp.) (Dholes and Golden Jackals), civet spp., badger spp., mongoose spp., linsang spp., marten spp., ferret-badger spp., otter spp., Binturong, the eight native cat species, primate species, and the many bats species. You get the point. Even if the disease is eliminated in the Domestic Dog population, the disease will contuinue to infect some of these dogs in the future due to infection from all the other native host species found within the Thai borders. Also, there are very feral Domestic Dogs that live in remote wild areas. IMHO, these individuals will not be able to be captured, killed, given vaccinations, etc. so there will still be Domestic Dog hosts existing in remote areas. But, yeah, the general population of Domestic Dogs in LOS could be "rabies-free" if there was a very good, lengthy, concerted effort to eliminate the disease. Good luck with that.

They must have assumed rabies is treatable like polio.... hence the 20 yr plan !

[dick turpin]

Are we to assume that the arrest of Belgian "Mad Dog" in Pattaya

last week is part of this eradication programme?

[Alwaysright]

Thailand might be able to "eliminate" rabies from the general Domestic Dog population, but the disease will NEVER be eliminated from the country. Rabies is hosted by and affects mammals. Species members of the orders Carnivora (Carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the main hosts/reservoirs for rabies. Primate species can also host the disease. Rabies will continue to be harboured by native Thai species of mammals such as the wild dog species (spp.) (Dholes and Golden Jackals), civet spp., badger spp., mongoose spp., linsang spp., marten spp., ferret-badger spp., otter spp., Binturong, the eight native cat species, primate species, and the many bats species. You get the point. Even if the disease is eliminated in the Domestic Dog population, the disease will contuinue to infect some of these dogs in the future due to infection from all the other native host species found within the Thai borders. Also, there are very feral Domestic Dogs that live in remote wild areas. IMHO, these individuals will not be able to be captured, killed, given vaccinations, etc. so there will still be Domestic Dog hosts existing in remote areas. But, yeah, the general population of Domestic Dogs in LOS could be "rabies-free" if there was a very good, lengthy, concerted effort to eliminate the disease. Good luck with that.

How are they going to get all the Soi dogs?

[miksguevara]

Thailand might be able to "eliminate" rabies from the general Domestic Dog population, but the disease will NEVER be eliminated from the country. Rabies is hosted by and affects mammals. Species members of the orders Carnivora (Carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the main hosts/reservoirs for rabies. Primate species can also host the disease. Rabies will continue to be harboured by native Thai species of mammals such as the wild dog species (spp.) (Dholes and Golden Jackals), civet spp., badger spp., mongoose spp., linsang spp., marten spp., ferret-badger spp., otter spp., Binturong, the eight native cat species, primate species, and the many bats species. You get the point. Even if the disease is eliminated in the Domestic Dog population, the disease will contuinue to infect some of these dogs in the future due to infection from all the other native host species found within the Thai borders. Also, there are very feral Domestic Dogs that live in remote wild areas. IMHO, these individuals will not be able to be captured, killed, given vaccinations, etc. so there will still be Domestic Dog hosts existing in remote areas. But, yeah, the general population of Domestic Dogs in LOS could be "rabies-free" if there was a very good, lengthy, concerted effort to eliminate the disease. Good luck with that.

Ive read this article very carefully and am very dissapointed that the word 'hub' wasn't used once why couldnt they have said that Thailand will become a hub for anti rabies?

we want the HUB we want the HUB...HUB HUB HUB

[LazySlipper]

Wow

Has thailand decided to do something aboout the rats, that carry rabies, or is Thailand going to choose to inoculate the politicians in order to curb this problem--

[haybilly]

Wow

Has thailand decided to do something aboout the rats, that carry rabies, or is Thailand going to choose to inoculate the politicians in order to curb this problem--

Whilst I ackowledge that it is a start----to talk about doing something, that is--as has been said, it is an impossible goal--sorry to rain on their party.