COLOMBO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Altogether 11 Sri Lankans have died from rabies so far in 2024, consultant community physician of the Health Ministry's epidemiology unit, Athula Liyanapathirana, told journalists here on Thursday.
These deaths were caused by not seeking medical treatment immediately, he said, adding that rabies medications are placed in 300 hospitals across the country and are free of charge.
In 2022, a million dogs were vaccinated and 40,000 female dogs were sterilized in the country, Liyanapathirana said.
According to data from the World Health Organization, Sri Lanka has reduced human rabies deaths from 377 in the mid-1970s to 38 in 2022 due to its successful vaccination drive. ■