Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development declared parts of Bangkok and Samut Prakan as temporary epidemic zones on 9 Sep 2025 following a rabies outbreak. The 30-day animal movement ban covers specific districts in eastern Bangkok and neighbouring Samut Prakan province.
The outbreak originated in Nong Bon subdistrict, Prawet district, Bangkok, where authorities detected rabies cases. The emergency measures will remain active until 8 Oct 2025.
Strict Movement Controls Implemented
The order prohibits transportation of dogs, cats, cattle, buffalo and other mammals in and out of designated zones without written veterinary permission. Animal owners must report sick animals within 12 hours of detecting symptoms.
Dead animals must remain untouched until veterinary officers arrive to examine them. Violations carry penalties of up to two years imprisonment and fines reaching 40,000 baht (~SGD1,600).
High-Risk Areas Under Surveillance
Bangkok’s Veterinary Public Health Office identified a five-kilometre alert zone around Chalerm Phrakiat Rama 9 Soi 49 in Nong Bon subdistrict. The rabies control unit deployed to the area after finding infected animals.
High-risk zones include Nong Bon, Dok Mai and Prawet in Prawet District. On Nut and Phatthanakan in Suan Luang District also face elevated risk levels.
Thap Chang in Saphan Sung, Lat Krabang district, Bang Na Nuea and Bang Chak areas require increased monitoring. Samut Prakan’s Bang Kaeo and Racha Thewa districts fall within the surveillance perimeter.
Public Safety Measures Activated
Authorities urge residents to avoid contact with stray animals throughout affected areas. Officials warn that rabies becomes almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
People bitten or scratched by animals must wash wounds immediately with soap and water. Medical attention for rabies vaccination should follow without delay.
Vaccination Campaign Responds to Crisis
Officials inoculated 728 people and vaccinated 104 pets in nearby districts including Saphan Sung, Suan Luang and Bang Phli. Authorities captured and isolated 51 stray dogs for monitoring purposes.
Free rabies vaccinations remain available at Public Health Service Centres across Bangkok. The government provides pre-exposure prophylaxis to high-risk populations at no cost.
Animal Warning Signs Identified
Rabid animals display restlessness, aggressive behaviour and excessive drooling. Other symptoms include stiffness, biting objects and hanging tongues.
Pet owners should monitor animals for locked jaws and foaming at the mouth. Residents can report suspected cases to Dog Control and Shelter at 02-328-7460 or 02-328-7355.
Thailand’s Long-Term Rabies Battle
Thailand reduced human rabies cases by more than 90% since the 1980s through mass dog vaccination programmes. The government targets complete rabies elimination following WHO, OIE and FAO policy guidelines.
Approximately 300,000 dogs and cats underwent sterilisation in 2018 as part of population control measures. Eight Department of Livestock Development laboratories and Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute conduct rabies testing nationwide.
The Department of Disease Control manages clinical treatment for dog bites and outbreak surveillance. Post-exposure prophylaxis remains available at public and private hospitals throughout the country.
Thailand continues building dog shelters for stray animals in outbreak areas and abandoned pets. Educational campaigns use various media platforms to raise public awareness about rabies prevention and control measures.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. The virus belongs to the Lyssavirus genus and causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies becomes almost always fatal.
The disease kills approximately 59,000 people worldwide each year, with 95% of human deaths occurring in Asia and Africa.
The rabies virus spreads primarily through the bite of an infected animal. Dogs account for up to 99% of human rabies transmissions globally. Other common carriers include bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
he virus travels from the bite wound through nerve pathways to reach the brain. Initial symptoms resemble flu-like illness, including fever, headache, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, patients develop hydrophobia, agitation, hallucinations, and paralysis.
Prevention relies on avoiding contact with unknown animals and seeking immediate medical care after any bite. Post-exposure prophylaxis involves thorough wound cleaning followed by a series of rabies vaccinations. Pre-exposure vaccination protects high-risk individuals such as veterinarians, animal handlers, and travelers to endemic areas.
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