Rabid dog bites on the rise

A dog in Quyet Thang Ward in Lai Chau Province is vaccinated. Since early this year, there have been numerous cases of people bitten by rabid dogs in the province. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Truong

The report says cases of rabid dog bites are on the rise, with 284 people bitten by suspected rabid dogs in the province so far this year.

The Director of the provincial Preventive Medicine Centre, Tran Thi Lien, said cases of rabid dog bites have increased over the same period last year.

"Rabies outbreaks are most frequent in May and June, when the weather gets a lot hotter. However, reports from seven healthcare centres in localities have shown a high number of patients bitten by rabid dogs during the past two months," Lien said.

Most victims of rabid dog bites live in Sin Ho and Phong Tho districts and Lai Chau Township, where many rabid dogs were found during an outbreak of rabies last year, according to Lien.

"Most patients said they were bitten by stray dogs, which are difficult to keep track of," he said.

"The real number of people bitten by suspected rabid dogs must be higher than the official figure as some people bitten by dogs do not seek treatment at local health centres, instead preferring to treat the bite with herbal remedies. These cases go unreported."

Lien said that although dog bites were on the rise, no deaths had been reported from rabies so far this year.

Deputy director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Pham Anh Hung said there were many unmuzzled dogs on the streets while the rate of dogs vaccinated against rabies has remained low due to poor awareness among dogs owners, especially in rural and remote areas.

The department has conducted an anti-rabies campaign and supplied 12,000 doses of vaccines to 60 communes in the province since last month. More than 160 suspected rabid dogs, mostly from northern Phu Tho Province, have been seized and destroyed and killed, Hung said.

Director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Dang Xuan Hao said measures have been implemented to curb rabies.

Inspection

These include rules requiring dogs owners to muzzle their pets, while dog breeders are now required to register their dogs for better management.

Authorities have also set up inspection teams to check dogs bred by household businesses. However, Hao said these measures were still not effective enough. "Local authorities in Sin Ho and Phong Tho districts take responsibility of controlling the number of dogs raised at households. However, a shortage of personnel and the large administrative areas involved make it hard to uncover and punish violations," Hao said. Most violations resulted in a warning from local authorities.

Lien said seven district healthcare centres had handed out free rabies vaccine worth VND136,000 each (US$7.1) to poor and disadvantaged people since last May.

"Therefore, more and more people that have been bitten are coming for proper treatment," he said.

Lien said local authorities should boost information on rabies prevention while encouraging people to raise dogs properly. She said people who live in remote areas should get assistance to access healthcare.

Last July, a rabies epidemic was announced after four people died of the disease. — VNS