7 replies to this topic

[DOLLY]

"Bangkok health authorities are trying to trace Thais and foreigners who bought puppies from a pet shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market after the shop's owner died from rabies. The unnamed woman was a Public Health Ministry official and the owner of the Take Care Pet Shop at the market. She died from rabies after being bitten by one of her dogs.

The victim's husband and children tested negative for the virus.The husband said several puppies from the shop had been sold to Thai and foreign customers.The department will today send officials to inspect pet shops at the market.

Dogs that were bought from the Take Care Pet Shop will be traced, tested and vaccinated, said Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukavejworakit. Dr Malinee urged people who bought dogs from the shop to contact the BMA's hotline 1555 or call 02-345-3311 if their pets were behaving strangely.

The city administration has arranged for the Medical Sciences Department to test samples of the rabies vaccine bought by the dead shopkeeper to see if it was fake, Dr Malinee said. The Food and Drug Administration has also been contacted to check whether the firm that supplied the vaccine had been approved by the agency. . .

Disease Control Department chief Manit Theeratantikanond said the victim died on Feb 14. She was bitten by one of her dogs last December and had developed rabies' symptoms by Feb 11. She was bitten by a three-year-old Rottweiler. The dog later died, followed by another eight pets at the victim's house, Dr Apirom said.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit yesterday said anyone who is bitten by a dog should urgently seek medical attention. He asked the Chiang Mai health office to find out which farm the victim had bought the dogs from.

The number of deaths from rabies in Thailand is increasing. The virus killed nine people in 2008. Last year the number rose to 24. From Jan 1 to Feb 16 this year six people have died from the disease.People who are bitten by an animal should see a doctor to be vaccinated against rabies within 72 hours.'

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3319...arks-puppy-hunt

[TheYenta]

The city administration has arranged ...to test samples of the rabies vaccine bought by the dead shopkeeper to see if it was fake, Dr Malinee said. The Food and Drug Administration has also been contacted to check whether the firm that supplied the vaccine had been approved by the agency. . .

Rabies is bad enough but the idea that fake rabies vaccines are circulating within the hospital system is terrifying. If this owner took the rabies vaccine after being bitten (which makes sense given the fact that she was apparently a public health official and a pet store owner) and died because the vaccine was a fake, someone is guilty of homicide. I also don't understand why the deceased's name is being withheld, given the serious public health issue involved here.

[Sexpat]

"Registration of pet shops in Chatuchak Sunday market will soon be a must after a woman who was selling dogs there died recently of rabies, a senior Bangkok Metropolitan Administration veterinarian said yesterday.

Most pets sold are younger than one month old - too young for vaccination by shop owners, thus requiring buyers to get them vaccinated, said Janthra Singchai, who added that most buyers of pets were not aware that vaccination is mandatory for preventing rabies and other diseases.

Tracing of records was underway to seek people who bought dogs from the Take Care Pet Shop, owned by the unnamed woman, who was a Public Health Ministry official and raised her rabiesinfected Rottweiler for three years. Janthra said media reports over the woman's death could prompt buyers to get their dogs vaccinated.

Mandatory registration of pet shops and records of pets sold will soon be imposed on pet shops in other Bangkok areas. Another rule to be soon imposed is that dogs and pets be kept in cages. Now they are often left outside cages and walk around to attract buyers' attention.An inspection of Chatuchak market will be made today and free vaccination will be provided to pet shops.

The Public Health Ministry said regulations and vaccination would soon be imposed on pet shops outside Bangkok, and provincial public health officials will soon survey and register pet shops in their jurisdiction."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...-Chatuchak-mark

[LarryCA]

Most pets sold are younger than one month old - too young for vaccination by shop owners, thus requiring buyers to get them vaccinated, said Janthra Singchai, who added that most buyers of pets were not aware that vaccination is mandatory for preventing rabies and other diseases.

If they really want to eradicate rabies in dogs over the long haul, they should prohibit all shops from selling any dog that's too young to be vaccinated against the disease prior to sale. Letting shops sell puppies that are too young to be vaccinated against rabies is asking for trouble, because most Thais never bother to get their dogs vaccinated for anything. Mandatory vaccinations of dogs has helped make many countries in Europe, Japan and the USA totally free of canine rabies.

[francois]

. Mandatory vaccinations of dogs has helped make many countries in Europe, Japan and the USA totally free of canine rabies.

The real rabies problem will occur when the street dogs become infected. There is a simple solution to this problem but not likely that authorities will take any action.

[Finian]

The city administration has arranged for the Medical Sciences Department to test samples of the rabies vaccine bought by the dead shopkeeper to see if it was fake, Dr Malinee said.

Let's hope there is a follow-up story indicating what tests showed on the genuineness of the vaccine. It's entirely possible that the vaccine was genuine but administered too late. If the vaccine is not injected quickly after the bite and before the symptoms of rabies appear in the victim, it's almost always too late to save a life. You can't wait until you start to feel sick to get the shots. If you do, you will die.

[francois]

My reading was that the vaccine "given to the dogs" may have been fake. Not the vaccine given to the victim after the bite which would normally be administered by a doctor or hospital.

[DOLLY]

My reading was that the vaccine "given to the dogs" may have been fake. Not the vaccine given to the victim after the bite which would normally be administered by a doctor or hospital.

I'm not sure now who they are taking about. If the human victim was quickly vaccinated after being bitten by the Rottweiler, why would she have died ? One thing is for sure. Keep your distance from street dogs because the most gentle dogs you see on the street can turn into monsters if they gets the rabies virus.