Pet vaccination rush aims to stave off rabies wave
Villagers in Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality are rushing to have their pet dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies, receiving eggs as a gift for their role in helping control the deadly virus which has already caused seven human deaths.
The latest case erupted late last month in the neighbouring province of Phatthalung, where a man died after being scratched by his infected pet dog.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, rabies has already spread in its nine districts since January, although there are no reports of an outbreak in Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality.
Residents in the municipality must stay alert as there are several thousand dogs and cats — with and without owners — in 63 communities, deputy Nakhon Si Thammarat major Sawai Khiaochan said yesterday. The latest survey found 1,000 of them are “underprivileged”, while another 4,000 are fed as pets, he said.
Many people yesterday took their pets to livestock officials offering free vaccinations. Some owners also had their animals sterilised.
While the villagers’ awareness is good, officials are not just waiting for pet owners to come to them, said Mr Sawai. He said officials plan to set up mobile units to make sure the vaccines reach all communities.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn earlier expressed concerns over rabies and urged officials to help make Thailand free of the disease. Nakhon Si Thammarat is among those provinces under the princess’ s pilot project to shelter stray dogs.
So far, 250 dogs have been brought to the shelter compound at Walailak University in Tha Sala district, said deputy provincial governor Khachonkiat Rakphanitmani. He said the facility will be upgraded to house 2,000 stray dogs.
The province’s efforts are being done in tandem with the Department of Livestock Development, which is struggling to deal with rabies amid a substandard vaccine scandal.
Apart from Phatthalung, rabies-related deaths have also been reported in Surin, Trang, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Buri Ram.