Rabies temporary outbreak zones remain in 29 provinces

BANGKOK, March 30 (TNA) – More than 3.3 million dogs and cats have been vaccinated against rabies while areas in 29 provinces remain the temporary outbreak zones for 30 days. Livestock Development Department Director-General Apai Suttisunk said that under cooperation with the Department of Local Administration, the Livestock Development Department targets to vaccinate 8.24 million dogs and cats. It plans to complete 80 per cent of this number by May. Since the operation in Oct last year until today, more than 3.3 million dogs and cats have been given vaccines. However, 100 per cent of those animals in the five-kilometre radius of the outbreak zone have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, the department plans to sterilize 300,000 dogs and cats. So far, more than 146,000 dogs have been sterilized. According to the figures last year, there are about 10 million dogs and cats in Thailand. Local authorities have already registered about 7.3 million of them. Thailand reports seven human deaths from rabies since the beginning of this year. – (TNA)