Moving towards the elimination of rabies in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

Human rabies is regarded as a fatal disease; however, its occurrence is preventable. Prevention consists of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for humans and controlling the main cause through dog vaccination. In Thailand, health care budgets are increasingly allocated to human PEP rather than eradication of rabies in dogs. This is the case, even if controlling rabies in the dog population is a more cost-effective, longterm approach to prevent human rabies than PEP. While the principal cause of rabies is the roaming stray dogs, the impetus for control and removal is hampered by a lack of awareness of its true impact. The declaration of an annual World Rabies Day, September 8, is an initial effort to raise global awareness of the ongoing and unnecessary tragedy of rabies.