PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTRY AIMS TO REDUCE RABIES FATALITIES BY 50% THIS YEAR, AFTER 3 PEOPLE ALREADY DIED SINCE START OF 2006

The Ministry of Public Health has urged doctors nationwide to be on the lookout for rabies, and is targeting a 50% reduction of human fatalities from rabies this year.

Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat (พินิจ จารุสมบัติ) said 3 patients have already died from rabies this year. He has thus told doctors across the country to provide patients with rabies vaccine as prevention measure in cases where diagnosis still did not clearly confirm rabies. This year he plans to reduce the number of human fatalities from rabies by 50%, from last year's total of 19.

Disease Control Department Director-General Thawat Suntharajarn (ธวัช สุนธราจารย์) said patients infected with rabies would have the conditions of stiff neck and back, and have no appetite for water. If the patient does not receive vaccination in time the pathogen would spread throughout the body and result in death.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 January 2006

A good idea to keep doctors on the ball here, BUT

there must be other areas that need the attention more.

The drugs are available and there were only 19 deaths.

If they are really serious it would be better to tackle the source of the

problem, stray dogs, rather worry about the treatable symptoms.

REDUCE RABIES FATALITIES BY 50%

...kill 100% of stray dogs.