Thailand People warned of rabies
People warned of rabies
The Ministry of Public Health has warned people of rabies during this winter since no medication is available at present, according to Permanent Secretary for Public Health, MD Paijit Warachit.
MD Paijit said people still misunderstood that rabies would spread only during summer but actually, it could be found in all seasons, especially during winter when male dogs could get rabies from fighting for their mates. Rabies can transfer to people by biting, scratching or licking. Patients can fall ill from four days to as long as four years but mostly will live not more than one year. All cases result in death as there is no medical cure.
Patients suffering from rabies will prefer to stay in dark corners, as well as being anxious and aggressive. Terminal symptoms include locked jaw, large production of saliva, inability to swallow, hydrophobia, hallucination, and paralysis. 24 patients died of rabies in ten provinces this year. The number is already higher than last year.
Meanwhile, Disease Control Department Director-General, MD Manit Teeratantikanont, told dog owners to have their pets vaccinated. Anyone bitten by dogs is advised to quarantine the dog to observe its symptoms, bathe the wound, and meet physicians for vaccination. About 400,000 people are vaccinated against rabies annually.
