Govt bites back in bid to quell rabies

The government has kicked off a nationwide campaign against rabies, saying it aims to make Thailand free of the deadly viral disease by 2020.

During the campaign, which runs until June 30, dog and cat owners are being encouraged to get their pets vaccinated against rabies free of charge at government agency offices near their homes offering the service, Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach said on Thursday.

He was speaking at an event in Pathum Thani, in which mobile rabies control and prevention units were sent to communities in the province to raise awareness about rabies prevention.

The Department of Livestock's anti-rabies teams also will encourage pet owners to register their animals under the department's thairabies.net system and provide information about laws related to rabies control, combating other communicable animal diseases, as well as animal cruelty and welfare.

Between March and April last year, 1,121 domestic and stray animals were confirmed as having rabies. Fluid samples were taken from animals suspected of having contracted rabies.

Altogether, 12 people were also confirmed to have rabies during that same period.

State agencies are working together to ensure the country has a sufficient supply of rabies vaccine as the government aims to eradicate rabies in this country by the end of next year, according to Mr Grisada.

These agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Livestock and the Department of Local Administration. They are also working with private firms to increase the import of rabies vaccines.

The importers are capable of supplying up to 14.9 million doses, while the country is estimated to require about 14.3 million doses to combat the disease, he said.

Mahidol University's Veterinary faculty has been serving as an external auditor, inspecting the quality of rabies vaccine imported for use in Thailand, Mr Grisada said, adding that it has so far found the vaccine to be of good quality.