General

Health officials in Sri Lanka have reported a troubling increase in rabies cases linked to cats. They are urging the public to be very careful, as statistics show that last year, most rabies infections came not from stray dogs but from pet cats in homes. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals, which can include dogs, cats, foxes, squirrels, bats, mongooses, cattle, and horses. Each year, Sri Lanka sees between 250,000 and 300,000 dog-bite incidents, according to health authorities. Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, a Consultant Community Physician with the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Unit, warned that testing of animal brain samples has shown a significant rise in rabies among cats. He noted that cat bites have increased sharply, especially in the Colombo and Gampaha areas, and that even scratches from cats can pose serious risks. As a result, officials are advising the public to seek prompt medical care after any animal bite or scratch and to ensure their pets are vaccinated properly.