TAIPEI -- Rabies cases in Taiwan are leveling off with no reports in new areas, the island's rabies prevention and control headquarters said Friday.
As of Thursday, Taiwan's agricultural authority had tested 429 samples of wild animals and only 97 ferret-badgers were confirmed to be positive of the disease, the headquarters said in a statement.
Infection cases have been found in 44 villages and townships in nine of the island's counties and cities.
Ferret-badgers are still the major source of infection, the statement said.
In the 24 hours to 4 p.m. Thursday, a total of 73 applications for an anti-rabies vaccination were filed after injuries caused by animals. Of the applications, 54 have been approved, according to the agricultural authority.
The prevention headquarters said the authorities will carry on vaccinating dogs and cats to increase the coverage rate of rabies precaution.
However, the authorities still have no idea about the reason of the rabies epidemic among ferret-badgers.
Taiwan has been rabies-free for more than 50 years, and the current outbreak that lasted dozens of days has caused concern among locals.
