Rabies Outbreaks in Thailand
Due to Thailand’s Buddhist culture in the society and locals’ mentality and customer behaviors, rabies remains a serious health concern in the Kingdom. Despite the wide availability of vaccines and the government’s pledge to eliminate the disease, it is still found in many places in recent years.
Pets are loyal companions to humans. However, without proper care and ownership, they risk becoming stray dogs with rabies infection. The large quantity of stray dogs poses alarming risks of this fatal disease to humans.
This Pacific Prime Thailand article will take you on an investigative journey to see whether rabies is still widespread in the Kingdom, 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 increase 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 rabies average annual 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 entirely eradicating the disease as Thailand found 121 samples of rabid animals in 27 provinces in the past year.
Recently, a rabies outbreak of 74 reported infections has been detected in the northeastern provinces such as Surin and Buri Ram. Fortunately, no deaths have been caused due to timely diagnosis and vaccination. That said, this is an alarm for Thailand that rabies is endemic and yet to be resolved.
Despite the global effort to eliminate human rabies by 2030, it is still a deadly viral disease responsible for numerous deaths worldwide, with Thailand being one of the most affected countries. In this regard, expats should still be aware that it is a prevalent health risk for those in the Kingdom.
Causes of Rabies Outbreaks in Thailand
Rabies spread through animals that are not immunized. But since vaccinations against rabies are widely available, why aren’t cats and dogs being vaccinated in Thailand? The answer to this question lies in the underpinning cultural landscape of the country.
Thai consumers still prefer to buy farm-bred dogs and cats rather than adopt from animal shelters. This customer behavior promotes the over-breeding of animals by farms and corporations, 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 ownership of and responsibilities for their pets. A lot of pet owners abandon them once they fail to sterilize them and they can’t be taken care of, or when they no longer serve their original purpose.
Currently, Thailand has about one million stray dogs, with 300,000 being located in Bangkok. The country’s strong Buddhist roots prevent the execution of the “set zero” method, which involves killing all infected animals to curb the disease. Thus vaccination is the only solution to the problem.
If you visit Bangkok, you will almost certainly encounter stray dogs or cats in every public place and street alley. For this reason, it is important that you know what the key preventative measures for rabies are.
Symptoms
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, with 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
Treatment
The only treatment is post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This prevents 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
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
- 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
- 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)
- 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.
Conclusion
There are always health risks you will have to be aware of when traveling or moving to another country. Thailand is generally a very safe country for expats, yet rabies outbreaks in Thailand are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health issues you have to be aware of.
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 and wants.
At Pacific Prime, we work with the best insurers in Thailand to offer a wide range of plans, including short-term health insurance plans and international health insurance plans in Thailand. You will be guided and supported throughout your insurance journey regarding claims and answering inquiries.
For more information, you can contact our team of experts for impartial advice at no cost, or visit our website for a no-obligation, free quote today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the risk of contracting rabies in Thailand high?
The risk of getting rabies is small. Despite the large number of stray dogs in Thailand, most have been immunized. If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a dog, seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.
Is rabies common in Bangkok?
Rabies is not that common in Bangkok. Many Stray dogs can be found in Bangkok. However, as the capital of Thailand, a lot of immunization measures have been taken to prevent outbreaks. That said, rabies is the most common 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 animals such as cats, cows, bats, and foxes.
Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.
Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.
Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.
Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.
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