Three tambons in Nakhon Phanom have been declared temporary epidemic zones after a dog which bit a man in tambon Phum Kae of Na Kae district in early March was found to be infected with rabies.
The three tambons are Phum Kae and Si Chomphu in Na Kae district and Na Nad in That Phanom district. They are within a 5 kilometre radius of where the man was bitten.
The declaration was issued by the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Livestock Office.
Under the Animal Epidemics Act, the removal of animals or carcasses from an epidemic zone is prohibited unless specifically permitted by authorities.
The announcement took effect on Tuesday and expires on April 12.
Fifty-two year-old Kidsamai Posan, of Ban Non Hang in tambon Phum Kae, was bitten by a stray dog on March 9. The dog was reported to be attacking other canines and people in Moo 7, 8 and 12 of tambon Phum Kae.
The dog was later put down and tests revealed the animal was rabid.
Local officials are vaccinating dogs and cats in the area.
Poonsawat Muanglen, a health official in Na Kae district, said at least 10 dogs need to be caught and quarantined. He was confidend Mr Kidsamai would be safe as he received his first vaccination shortly after being bitten.
Nakhon Phanom governor Somchai Witdamrong said he had given instructions that strong measures be taken to stem the outbreak. All districts in the province were told to speed up the vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies, he said.
With fears of a rabies epidemic spreading, 13 other provinces were declared rabies red zones last week. They are Surin, Chon Buri, Sumut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Nan, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Rai, Rot Et, Songkhla, Rayong, Tak and Si Sa Ket.