Rabiesโ Concerns Rise in thailand Following Songkran holiday Surge
Bangkok, Thailand – April 17, 2025 – Thai authorities are โขurging vigilance and immediate reporting of unusual animal โฃbehaviorโค followingโข a surge โin traffic accidents and fatalities during theโ recent Songkran festival, raisingโข concerns about a potential increase in rabies transmission. The holiday period, known for its water fights and โคwidespreadโ travel, saw 1,000 traffic accidents resulting inโข 138โฃ deaths and numerous injuries between April 11th and April 16th, increasing the risk of human-animal contact and potential โขexposure to the virus.
The Ministry of Public โHealth is now โemphasizing โpublic awareness ofโฃ rabies symptomsโข in animalsโ – including restlessness, โขunprovoked biting, stiffness, excessive salivation, and a stretched tongue – and mandating immediate reporting of any observed cases to local authorities in Bangkok. This heightened alert comes as Thailand grapples with ongoing efforts to control rabies, a fatalโค butโค preventable โviral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily dogs and cats. โข
Rabies remains a public health โฃthreat in Thailand, despite national vaccinationโฃ programs. Increased movement ofโค people and animals during Songkran creates opportunities forโ the โvirus to spread, especially in areas โwith lower vaccination rates among animal populations. The government is reinforcing preventative measures,including promoting responsible pet ownership,encouraging vaccinationโ of domesticโ animals,and educating the public about post-exposure prophylaxis – a series of โvaccinations and immune globulin injections – crucial for preventing theโค disease if exposed.
The Department of Diseaseโ Control is actively monitoring โthe situation and coordinating with โlocal healthโฃ officials โฃto ensure rapidโ response to any reported cases.Citizens โคare reminded โto avoid contact with stray or unfamiliar animals and to seek immediate medical attention if bitten or scratched โคby an animal, even if no visible wounds are โpresent.