Public health experts in south China's Guangdong province have cautioned local citizens to protect themselves against rabies, given that the province recorded 74 reported cases for the period from Jan. 5 to Jun. 30.

Among the 74 cases, 32 were reported by Maoming City and eight by Zhanjian City.

Governments at various levels in the province have stepped up precautionary measures, including the organized killing of stray dogs and the immunization of local residents.

In Maoming, the most seriously-affected area, 3,385 local people have been mobilized to round up and kill stray dogs since the outbreak of the epidemic. A total of 6,859 dogs have been put to sleep.

A total of 786 rabies cases have been reported in Guangdong since 1990.

Rabies is a serious, fatal disease that can be transmitted by dogs, cats, livestock and certain wild animals and birds.

(People's Daily   July 21, 2003)