Rabies back as a threat as deaths climb

HEALTH

Rabies has re-emerged as a threat after the number of deaths in Thailand rose to 23 so far this year from nine last year.

Health authorities said seven people had died in Bangkok alone, compared with only one last year.

Dr Teerawat Hemajuta, a member of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medical Science and a leader of the rabid dog study team, said the rise in rabies deaths - which numbered in the hundreds 20 years ago before a concerted campaign to eradicate the deadly disease - was a warning to the public that the disease still existed and people needed to be more careful.

"Half of the deaths are from household dogs. It is very important for people to be aware of vaccinating their dogs, especially puppies," he said.

Some experts say puppies should only be vaccinated after they are three months old. But Dr Teerawat said he thought the guideline should be reviewed.

"We should look into whether it is important for vaccination to be done at birth to prevent the disease," he said.

Dr Teerawat said dog birth control should be given a higher priority. Unless more efficient action is taken, the dog population, both household and stray, in Thailand would rise from some 2 million today to about 17 million in the next 20 years.

The rabid dog study team has successfully introduced a new method for birth control in male dogs by injecting zinc gluconate into the genitalia instead of performing a vasectomy. The new treatment is regarded as quick, permanent and safe.

The research team had also claimed success in lab trials to halt the protein growth associated with the rabies virus. It was a significant development in preventing the virus from spreading to the human brain.

Science and Technology Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said plans had been set to completely eradicate rabies in Thailand by 2020.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks rabies as the second most dangerous disease for animal-to-human contraction after bird flu.