User:IREinthailand/sandbox

Historically, rabies was not highly endemical in Thailand. In 1980s Thailand has decreased the cases of human rabies by more than 90 percent through the access to life-saving rabies PEP and vaccination for the animals. But by the beginning of 2018, rabies has started spreading to many parts of Thailand. Thailand has an approximate number of 8.5 million dogs. With this number of dogs, the chances of being infected with rabies are increasing. With the number of dogs is responsible for 99 percent of human rabies cases. Dogs bear the most responsibility for the problem of rabies followed by cats and cows. Out of ten dogs one dog is infected with rabies . The main reason why there are so many infected dogs is that a large number of either domesticated and stray dogs are not vaccinated. This phenomenon is blamed on the pet owners for not immunizing their pets. According to research done in August, there are 1192 infected animals out of 7446 samples, which is 16.0 percent. Unsurprisingly, dogs are responsible for 87.33 percent of the infected animals in this research. With this number of infected animals, by the beginning of 2018, there are already 400 cases of rabies according to the Department of Livestock Development (DLD). This number has already exceeded the total number of cases in 2004, which increased 1.5 times compared to 2017. By March of 2018, 13 provinces were announced as red zones of rabies which includes Surin, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Nan, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Rai, Rot Et, Songkhla, Rayong, Tak and Sri Sa Ket.

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Solution
Lack of awareness of the disease of the public, and not vaccinated animals are the driving forces of the spread of rabies in Thailand. According to WHO (World Health Organization), the best way to eliminate rabies is to have the animals vaccinated, especially dogs. This solution is similar to a research done by Songsri Kasempimolporn and Sutthichai Jitapunkul which says elimination of dog rabies would be an efficient way to eradicate the disease. In 2017, Thailand took an action towards the elimination of rabies. WHO and Chulabhorn, princess of Thailand started a project which the goal is to eradicate rabies in Thailand by 2020. In this project, One Health approach is important for the end of rabies. Besides One Health approach, this project’s main missions are to raise the awareness of rabies, motivates people to prevent rabies, promotes rabies vaccination, and manage the population of dogs and cats. According to WHO and Princess Chulabhorn, the project also includes Keeping track of the disease, collecting and analyzing data, controlling the disease in animals and humans, and education of rabies to the public. In 2018, after the 13 provinces have been announced of red zones, Department of Livestock Development (DLD) has started to vaccinate animals. The goal of the DLD is to have 10 million cats and dogs immunized by September 2018. Most local authorities in provinces have started to vaccinate, but there is not enough vaccine in the North-east region and the villages that are far away from cities.