PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Part of the tourist district of Hua Hin has been declared a red rabies zone after an elderly man was found to have died from the viral disease after being infected by a cat bite.

Dr Surin Suebsueng, health chief of Prachuap Khiri Khan, said the 61-year-old man was bitten by a cat two months ago and had not sought vaccination afterwards. He died at Hua Hin Hospital on Wednesday night.

Samples of the dead man's hair, saliva, faeces and spinal fluid were tested and results were known on Thursday evening. He had been infected with rabies. 

Health officials in Hua Hin were mobilised to find people who had contact with the cat, which had since died, in the past two months, so they could be vaccinated.

An epidemic zone is declared when a disease is transmitted from animal to human and causes death, in this case rabies.

The last death from rabies in Hua Hin was 14 years ago, in 2004, Dr Surin said. People who been bitten or even scratched and licked by a mammal must be vaccinated, without waiting for it to be proven a carrier, he said. 

"Do not assume you are not infected because rabies can remain in a human body for six months to a year. All infected patients die. There is no cure," Dr Surin said.

The 61-year-old man was identified as Prasit Boonkerd, of Ban Nong Khon village in Hua Hin district.

In January a cat bit his hand and he did not get a vaccination. He was recently admitted to hospital with a suspected rabies infection, having difficulty swallowing. The cat died shortly after biting him.

Earlier on Friday, the Department of Livestock Development announced that rabies epidemic zone declarations remain in force in areas of 24 provinces.

They are Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Mukdahan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Nonthaburi, Phatthalung, Phetchabun, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Satun, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Surin, Trang, and Ubon Ratchathani.