狂犬病是一種人畜共通傳染病,所有溫血動物都有可能感染,人類如果遭到罹病動物抓咬傷,又沒經適當醫療處置,一旦發病後則致死率幾乎100%。臺灣為狂犬病非疫區已長達五十餘年,卻在2013年發生動物狂犬病疫情,民眾勢必對染病風險產生疑慮,對社會造成衝擊。狂犬病的最佳防治為犬貓全面實施預防注射及控制動物傳染窩的措施。農政單位必須落實動物疫情監視與動物疫苗接種,而衛生單位則以保障民眾健康是首要任務,須立即依現況修訂疫苗的接種建議,使遭風險動物抓咬傷者能即時獲得疫苗接種。惟有各部門充分合作才能有效做好狂犬病防治工作。
Specifically, the agricultural authority needs to thoroughly implement animals outbreak surveillance and vaccination of animals, while the health authority should revise the vaccine recommendation according to the situation and secure timely availability of the vaccine as its first and foremost priority is to ensure the health and wellbeing of the citizens.