Health officials have warned that rabies transmission from cats has increased in Sri Lanka. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana of the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health has warned that rabies is “100 percent a fatal disease” once symptoms develop, noting that only a very small number of people worldwide have survived the infection.
Dr. Liyanapathirana said recent laboratory testing of animal brain samples has indicated an increase in rabies cases among cats. He added that incidents of cat bites have risen sharply, particularly in the Colombo and Gampaha districts.
According to health officials, most rabies cases reported in Sri Lanka last year were not caused by stray dogs, but by pet dogs kept in homes.
Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the bites or saliva of infected animals. It can spread through a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, foxes, squirrels, bandicoots, civet cats, mongooses, cattle and horses.
Health authorities estimate that between 250,000 and 300,000 dog bite incidents are reported annually in Sri Lanka.
Officials stress that rabies is preventable through timely post-exposure vaccination and urge the public to seek immediate medical attention following any animal bite or scratch.