In Thailand, an alarm was announced about the spread of rabies in Bangkok after the discovery of infected stray dogs in several areas of the city.
The capital authorities recommended residents and tourists of 11 districts of Bangkok and the nearby district of Samutprakan to avoid contact with stray animals. According to local authorities, infected dogs were found in at least three districts of the Thai capital, which is the main tourist center of the country.
Although no human cases have yet been registered in Bangkok itself, seven people have died from rabies in six provinces of Thailand since the beginning of the year. The Department of Livestock Development announced the affected areas as temporary zones of infectious disease until October 8.
The authorities urged everyone who was bitten, scratched or was in contact with potentially infected dogs to immediately contact a medical institution for vaccination. Citizens were also asked to report any dead animals and suspected cases of human infection.
Experts note that the outbreak of diseases can negatively affect the tourism industry, which plays a key role in the country’s economy — it provides about 12% of GDP and about 20% of jobs. According to official statistics, the number of foreign tourists this year decreased by 7% to 22.4 million people.
