Thailand set to become Rabies-free by 2020

BANGKOK, February 11 (TNA) - Thailand has continued implementing measures against Rabies so that the Kingdom will completely eradicate Rabies by 2020, a target set by the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris-based Office of International des Epizooties (OIE). Telling reporters of the continual action, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Sahamethapat has acknowledged that the Thai Ministry of Public Health is speeding up turning both urban and rural Thai areas to become 100 per cent Rabies-free by 2015 so that Thailand will meet the WHO and OIE's target as a Rabies-free country by 2020. To achieve the goal, Dr. Narong said his ministry is working together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department of Livestock Development and local administrative organisations to provide Rabies vaccination for at least 80 of canines aging three months old upward in each area, while asking each household which has dogs as pets to register them and have them sterilized to control the number of canine population in the area, especially among stray dogs. Besides, concerned agencies have been ordered to make sure that every dog in each community receives Rabies vaccination annually for further prevention. The senior Thai health official has, however, warned that Rabies remain to be a fatal virus in the country, as there is no cure for the disease. According to an updated Public Health Ministry report, six people died from Rabies in Thailand last year, prompting the ministry to now speed up canine vaccination. The Ministry of Public Health stated that at least one million people were bitten by dogs in Thailand last year, but only half of them were vaccinated, noting that there are about seven million dogs nationwide currently. The ministerial report also indicated that there are 50,000 reported deaths from Rabies annually worldwide.(TNA)