In the previous three years, 13 people were reported dead in Yangon due to rabies, said Dr. Ye Lin Naing, head of the extended vaccination program under the Yangon Region Health Department.

Those victims received treatments at the hospitals. There were six reported deaths in 2016, five in 2017 and two until September, 2018, he added.

“According to these figures, the one who is infected with rabies has a 100-per-cent chance of dying. In addition to dogs, rabies can be spread through animals like cats and bats which can carry rabies virus,” he said.

There are 53 rabies vaccines centers at Infectious Disease Division under the Yangon Region Health Department. According to the lists from 44 township and district hospitals, there were 19,235 dog bites in 2016, 31,710 in 2017 and 29,481 until September, 2018. All the patients got vaccinated, he said.

Based on the number of patients, the Central Infectious Division in Nay Pyi Taw allots rabies vaccines under a quota system.