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108398
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 17:24
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http://m.oananews.org//node/108398
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Thailand set to be rabies-free country in 2020
NONTHABURI, Feb 24 (TNA) – The Thai Ministry of Public Health said Wednesday that it planned to eliminate rabies from the country by the year 2020, comcurrent with a similar global goal, according to Deputy Minister Panasiri Kulanatsiri, who said that this it could be possible because the disease is vaccine-preventable.
Mrs Panasiri said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) jointly urged all nations to get rid of rabies by 2020. Globally, 55,000 people die annually from canine rabies.
Some 52,250 of the rabies death cases or 95 per cent occur in Asia and Africa.
In Thailand, approximate 10-20 persons die of this zoonotic viral disease each year and most victims of the dog bites are children under the age of 10, the deputy public health minister said.
Some 80 per cent of biting dogs have owners and 47 per cent of the dogs do not have vaccination history available.
Mrs Panasiri said the government had spend Bt1billion budget each year to contain and prevent rabies in human and animals but anti-viral vaccination in dogs can be administered in limitedly, lower than 80 per cent of the targeted areas.
Currently, there are an estimated eight million owned and stray dogs in Thailand.
The deputy minister expressed concern that around 90 per cent of rabies deaths were due to dogs aged less than three months, domestic or owned dogs which had not been vaccinated.
The victims often did not visit hospital for innoculations after being bitten, as they thought that the owned, domestic dogs would not be infected with the often fatal virus.
In fact, according to medical authorities, 90 per cent of the animals contracting the rabies virus are dogs. The ministry therefore urges dog owners to take their pets to receive rabies vaccines and urged people exposed to suspicious animals to see veterinarians immediately.
Disease Control Department director-general Manit Teeratantikanont meanwhile said that six people have been reported dead of rabies in Thailand since the beginning of 2010.
The six victims included three Bangkok residents, while the other three lived in Kanchanaburi, Saraburi and Samut Prakan provinces respectively.
In a bid to set up rabies-free zones, Dr Manit suggested that at least 80 per cent of dogs aged three months or more in those areas should be be vaccinated for not less than 80 per cent of the total number to prevent rabies while, the local administration offices should jointly allocate a budget and set up a vaccination programme for all dogs at least once a year.
Twelve provinces had joined the pilot rabies-free zone project this year including Nonthaburi, Samut Sakorn, Phuket, Songkhla, Rayong, Phichit, Tak, Chiang Rai, Sing Buri, Surin, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
The issue of rabies disease came into spotlight after a female official of the public health ministry who also owned a pet shop at Chatuchak weekend market, died February 14 after being bitten by one of her own dogs.
Responding to this incident, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit urged raisers of cats and dogs to have their pets vaccinated for free from Livestock Development Department. (TNA)
Mrs Panasiri said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) jointly urged all nations to get rid of rabies by 2020. Globally, 55,000 people die annually from canine rabies.
Some 52,250 of the rabies death cases or 95 per cent occur in Asia and Africa.
In Thailand, approximate 10-20 persons die of this zoonotic viral disease each year and most victims of the dog bites are children under the age of 10, the deputy public health minister said.
Some 80 per cent of biting dogs have owners and 47 per cent of the dogs do not have vaccination history available.
Mrs Panasiri said the government had spend Bt1billion budget each year to contain and prevent rabies in human and animals but anti-viral vaccination in dogs can be administered in limitedly, lower than 80 per cent of the targeted areas.
Currently, there are an estimated eight million owned and stray dogs in Thailand.
The deputy minister expressed concern that around 90 per cent of rabies deaths were due to dogs aged less than three months, domestic or owned dogs which had not been vaccinated.
The victims often did not visit hospital for innoculations after being bitten, as they thought that the owned, domestic dogs would not be infected with the often fatal virus.
In fact, according to medical authorities, 90 per cent of the animals contracting the rabies virus are dogs. The ministry therefore urges dog owners to take their pets to receive rabies vaccines and urged people exposed to suspicious animals to see veterinarians immediately.
Disease Control Department director-general Manit Teeratantikanont meanwhile said that six people have been reported dead of rabies in Thailand since the beginning of 2010.
The six victims included three Bangkok residents, while the other three lived in Kanchanaburi, Saraburi and Samut Prakan provinces respectively.
In a bid to set up rabies-free zones, Dr Manit suggested that at least 80 per cent of dogs aged three months or more in those areas should be be vaccinated for not less than 80 per cent of the total number to prevent rabies while, the local administration offices should jointly allocate a budget and set up a vaccination programme for all dogs at least once a year.
Twelve provinces had joined the pilot rabies-free zone project this year including Nonthaburi, Samut Sakorn, Phuket, Songkhla, Rayong, Phichit, Tak, Chiang Rai, Sing Buri, Surin, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
The issue of rabies disease came into spotlight after a female official of the public health ministry who also owned a pet shop at Chatuchak weekend market, died February 14 after being bitten by one of her own dogs.
Responding to this incident, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit urged raisers of cats and dogs to have their pets vaccinated for free from Livestock Development Department. (TNA)
