The rabies situation in this country requires utmost serious attention. Last week The Protection and Disease Control Office declared 13 provinces red zones for the fatal disease which killed three people this year.
According to media reports, Bangkok is among 31 provinces that have been declared "temporary epidemics" and form part of the rabies-prone areas that cover altogether 42 provinces. In Bangkok, authorities have detected six rabies cases in four districts Don Muang, Bang Khen, Bang Sue and Chatuchak this week.
The 13 red-zone provinces are scattered in every region: Chon Buri, Sumut Prakan, Chachoengsao and Rayong, in central region and east; Nan, Chiang Rai, Tak in the North; Surin, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, Rot Et, and Si Sa Ket in northeast; and Songkhla in the south.
In fact, authorities have raised concerns over an increase in rabies cases since last year, with the number of dog and human deaths on the rise. Altogether 47 rabid animals -- 45 dogs and two cats -- were caught in Bangkok last year. The number was higher than the previous year, when 30 rabid animals were found.
Statistics released by the Disease Control Department show human fatalities from rabies appeared to have risen many-fold over the past years, from five in 2015 to 14 in 2016. The agency last year launched an anti-rabies campaign in its attempt to eradicate the disease. Pet owners, especially those who raise dogs, are encouraged to have their four-legged pals vaccinated as part of the campaign.
The Disease Control Department said three people have died from rabies while 247 domestic animals have been infected with the deadly virus since January. The number of rabid animals has increased 1.5 times compared to last year. Dogs were found to have contracted rabies most frequently while the disease was also found in cats and cows.
The rampant spread of rabies, with the designation of 13 red zone areas proves that the state efforts in dealing with this disease are futile. Undeniably, the failure in curbing rabies, a fatal yet preventable disease, raises a question about lax enforcement by authorities and lack of public awareness on the diseases.
A senior health official conceded that lack of anti-rabies vaccine in the provinces has complicated the issue over past years.
Some observers blamed strict budgetary measures that had barred local administration agencies from making vaccines for their jurisdiction areas over the past years. However, it's fortunate that the authorities have fixed the problem, with budgetary restrictions being eased, though almost too late.
In addition to bureaucratic nonsense, there is an issue of recklessness on the part of pet owners that is to blame for the outbreak.
Cheerasak Pipatpongsopon, deputy director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, said some of the infected dogs are those being raised by humans who could not care less about having their pets vaccinated against the virus. Worse, they let their pets roam free which increased the risk that they would be bitten by rabid animals.
The difficult part are stray dogs, whose number are estimated at 3.4 million nationwide.
Mr Cheerasak is right when he noted that some animal lovers are part of the problem when it comes to stray dogs. Even more difficult is those in the category of semi-stray, meaning animals that are being fed by some kind-hearted people who refuse to fully adopt the creatures. The animals then run loose and risk catching the virus.
It's these animal lovers who are obstacles to disease control as they do not allow officials to capture strays, he said.
"There are a lot of stray animals in Bangkok and Nonthaburi and it is very difficult to manage because a lot of people are animal lovers. They feed them and do not allow us to take the animals to shelters," Mr Cheerasak told the media this week.
Controlling the population of strays is equally difficult for the same reason. Sterilisation is almost impossible.
Those "animal lovers" are a challenge for the anti-animal cruelty law as feeding the strays could make them legal owners of the poor animals. This means those people have legal obligations to be responsible in case they attack anyone. Enforcement is not easy, however.
But rabies will not be eliminated from the country if authorities remain reluctant to stringently enforce the law. Those who abandon their pets must face penalties. At the same time, authorities must look for some other supportive measures including improving the condition of animal shelters.
If successful, animal lovers should not resist when these animals are rounded up and put into those places. On top of that, there needs a public campaign to encourage people to adopt the animals, instead of just feeding them, without responsibility.