Rabies Outbreaks in Thailand

Despite the wide availability of vaccines and the government’s attempt to eliminate the disease, rabies remains an unresolved health concern in Thailand, partly due to the country’s Buddhist mentality on “good karma” and the locals’ kindness towards stray animals.

Pets are loyal companions to humans. However, without proper care and ownership, they risk becoming stray animals with rabies infection. The large number of stray cats and dogs in Thailand poses alarming risks of this fatal disease for humans.

This Pacific Prime Thailand article will take you on an investigative journey to see whether rabies is still widespread here, explore its root causes, and go through the preventative measures you can take when traveling or moving to Thailand.

Rabies – Past and Present

Rabies was first spotted in Thailand back in the 1920s. As the pet and stray animal populations grew, cases of rabies began to rise to the point where the rabies death toll reached a record high of 370 people in 1980.

The 1980 rabies outbreak forced the Thai government to implement strong measures to curb rabies cases, such as modernizing medical equipment throughout the country and launching a public campaign to educate Thai citizens about the disease.

Rabies Cases Today

In recent years, Thailand’s average annual rabies mortality rate stands at around 10. Albeit lower than in 1980, rabies still poses an alarming health threat to its citizens to this present day.

The rabies death toll soared again in 2018 to almost 20, with samples indicating that up to 16% of animals are rabies-infected. The increase in rabies outbreaks in Thailand led to the categorization of 13 ‘rabies red zones’ throughout the country, mostly in the northern and northeastern provinces.

Since then, the government has immunized over 8.39 million dogs and cats nationwide. However, Thailand still seems miles away from eradicating the disease, as 121 cases of rabid animals were found across 27 provinces in 2023.

Recently, Bangkok faced a rabies outbreak in Soi Onnut 86, with 728 people and 104 pets in the area having been vaccinated against the virus. It’s evident that Thailand’s rabies situation is still endemic and requires resolution.

Despite the global effort to eliminate human rabies by 2030, it is still a deadly disease in over 150 countries, with Thailand being one of the most affected. Because of this, expats should be aware that it poses a serious health risk for those in the nation.

Causes of Rabies Outbreaks in Thailand

Unvaccinated animals are the vectors of rabies transmission. But since vaccinations against rabies are widely available, why aren’t all cats and dogs in Thailand vaccinated? The answer to this question lies in the nation’s underlying cultural landscape.

First, Thai consumers still prefer to buy farm-bred dogs and cats rather than adopt from animal shelters. This customer behavior promotes overbreeding on pet farms, which results in more stray, unvaccinated animals living in temples, shelters, and, more commonly, street corners.

What’s more, Thai families prioritize their livelihood over the responsibility for their pets. Many pet owners abandon them once they fail to sterilize them or when they face financial burdens and have to get rid of them.

Ultimately, the country’s strong Buddhist roots view euthanasia—one way to stop the spread of rabies—as a taboo, which leaves vaccination to be the only real solution to the problem.

There are about 70,000 stray cats and 130,000 stray dogs in Bangkok alone. If you visit Thailand’s capital city, you will almost certainly encounter them in any public place and street alley. Therefore, you should always be aware of rabies prevention strategies.

Symptoms of Rabies

Rabies is contracted through direct contact, most commonly through the saliva of an infected animal entering bite wounds.

Symptoms of rabies usually incubate for two to three months, but this period may vary from a week to a year, depending on the location of virus entry and the viral load. Initial symptoms include:

• Fever
• Pain
• Unusual tingling
• Pricking
• Burning sensation at the wound

During the later stages of the infection, the virus gradually moves to the central nervous system and causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in death.

There are two forms of rabies, each characterized by different clinical manifestations.

• Furious rabies accounts for about 80% of the total number of human cases. It usually results in:
  • Hyperactivity
  • Hallucinations
  • Lack of coordination
  • Hydrophobia (fear of water)
  • Aerophobia (fear of air)
  • Death by cardio-respiratory arrest
• Paralytic rabies accounts for the rest of the cases. It can cause:
  • Muscle paralysis
  • Coma
  • Death

Rabies Treatment

The only treatment is post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This approach can prevent deaths by hindering the virus from entering the central nervous system. It consists of three parts:

• Extensive washing with water and soap for over 15 minutes and local treatment of the wound upon suspected exposure
• A course of potent and effective rabies vaccine that is up to WHO standards
• An administration of rabies immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies into the wound

To learn more about rabies in Thailand, visit Understanding Rabies: Types, Causes, and Prevention.

Protecting Yourself Against Rabies

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), current diagnostic instruments cannot detect rabies in its early stages, deterring timely treatment. By the time the symptoms manifest, it is already too late to medically cure the disease, leading to high death rates among those infected.

Preventative Measures

To help you stay safe and appreciate the beauties of the ‘Land of Smiles,’ we have gathered rabies prevention recommendations from various health experts, including both local public health authorities and international health organizations.

Thailand’s Disease Control Department suggests:

• Do not tease or play with stray dogs
• Avoid accidentally stepping on the tails of stray dogs
• Do not get involved when encountering dogs fighting on the street
• When dogs are eating, leave them alone
• Call the 1422 hotline for more information

WHO suggests:

• Pre-exposure immunization is recommended for travelers, expats, and children living in areas with high rabies exposure, which can be done by getting human rabies vaccines

Bumrungrad Hospital (a top private hospital in Thailand) suggests:

• Vaccinate your pets
• Monitor your pets and avoid exposing them to wildlife
• Receive a rabies pre-exposure vaccine if traveling to a risk zone
• Do not approach or antagonize stray animals

What to Do If You are Bitten by a Stray Animal

If you are bitten by a stray animal in Thailand, you should always consult a doctor to determine whether it is necessary to administer a rabies vaccination, known as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). If it is necessary, the treatment would require 4 doses of the vaccine over 2 weeks.

If you are in Bangkok, you can check here for where to get rabies vaccine in Bangkok.

Conclusion

While Thailand is generally considered a safe country for expats, it’s important to be aware of health issues you may encounter beyond rabies outbreaks.

The best way to get your health risks covered is by securing expat medical insurance in Thailand. To do so, you can consult insurance brokers like Pacific Prime Thailand to find the most suitable health insurance plan for your needs.

At Pacific Prime, we work with the best insurers in Thailand to offer the plan that best fits you, including short-term health insurance and international health insurance plans. Rest assured that you will be supported with care throughout your insurance journey.

For more information, feel free to contact our team of experts for unbiased advice or visit our website for a no-obligation, free quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the risk of contracting rabies in Thailand high?

While rabies cases in Thailand are rare nowadays, with only a few cases reported annually, it remains a potential health risk. If you happen to get bitten by a dog, seek professional medical care as soon as possible.

Is rabies common in Bangkok?

Rabies is not that common in Bangkok despite the number of stray dogs and cats you see there. The capital of Thailand has implemented numerous immunization measures to prevent outbreaks. However, rabies is more common around rural areas in North and Northeastern Thailand.

Which animals carry rabies in Thailand?

Dogs account for a majority of the reported cases. Rabies can also be found in other animals such as cats, cows, bats, and foxes.

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Napasrapi Triemthana

Content Creator at Pacific Prime Thailand

Napasrapi Triemthana, best known by his nickname “Tawan,” is an upcoming content creator at Pacific Prime Thailand. He is a fresh graduate in English from the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, where he developed knowledge in literature and culture, while also building up experience writing both academically and professionally compelling essays and articles. Before joining Pacific Prime’s content team, Tawan had been in an internship at a top e-commerce company in Thailand, during which he had a chance to write blog posts and short articles for the company’s website and social media. During college, Tawan also worked part-time as a Thai-English translator and proofreader for the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University’s academic journals.

With his keen interest in journalism, especially in the healthcare and wellness field, Tawan joins Pacific Prime with the goal of creating content that simplifies health insurance solutions, helping people make informed choices and choose the best options for their needs. Tawan firmly believes that words have power that can shape the world for the better.

In his free time, Tawan loves to pick up his Nintendo Switch and wield his Master Sword in Hyrule’s dungeons. He is also an avid sci-fi books/shows enjoyer. You can spot him hanging around bookstores and game shops all day long!

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