Health authorities have expressed serious concern over the continued threat of rabies, reporting 14 deaths so far this year and urging the public to seek immediate medical attention following any animal bite.
Community Physician Specialist at the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, emphasised that rabies is a 100 per cent fatal disease once symptoms appear, but it is entirely preventable with timely treatment. He stressed that Sri Lanka must eliminate rabies before 2030 in order to achieve zero deaths.
Most of the recent fatalities have been reported from the Puttalam, Kurunegala and Rathnapura districts. Dr. Liyanapathirana noted that nearly 250,000 animal bite incidents are reported annually in the country, with the majority involving dog bites.
He further stated that a rise in dog bite cases, particularly in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, has contributed to the recent increase in deaths.
Health experts highlighted that rabies can be completely prevented through proper vaccination of pets, improved public awareness and timely post-exposure treatment. Authorities strongly urged the public not to ignore even minor animal bites and to seek prompt medical care to prevent further fatalities.
