18 deaths from rabies, Prime Minister issued urgent directives

According to the Circular addressed to the Chairpersons of Provincial and city-level People's Committees, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 11/CT-TTg on April 21, 2023 regarding urgent measures to prevent and control rabies.

However, according to a report made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, at least 82 deaths from rabies were recorded across 30 provinces and cities in 2023, with 674,888 people bitten by animals requiring rabies prophylaxis treatment. This is an increase of 45% compared to the number of cases in 2022, where 80% of the reported cases were caused by dogs, 18% by cats, and the remainder by other animals including monkeys, mice, and bats.

Within the first two months of 2024, there have been 18 reported deaths from rabies across 14 provinces and cities, which is an increase of 9 cases compared to the same period in 2023. The number of people requiring rabies prophylaxis treatment has reached nearly 70,000, marking an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2023. Quang Ninh province recently reported a case of rabid dogs biting 14 students and teachers on schoolground.

To prevent further increasing the number of people requiring rabies prophylaxis treatment due to animal bites, the number of deaths from rabies, and to move towards ending the transmission of rabies from animals to humans, especially from stray dogs and cats, the Prime Minister has requested the Chairpersons of the local People's Committees and the Ministers, Heads of relevant agencies to focus on directing, organizing and implementing rabies prevention and control activities in compliance with the Law on veterinary medicine, the Law on prevention and control of infectious diseases, and the Prime Minister's Directive No. 11/CT-TTg dated April 21, 2023.

Namely, the Chairpersons of local People's Committees will promote communication efforts, raise awareness and responsibilities of the local community, and guide pet owners to strictly comply with the law in raising, managing dogs, cats, and other potentially rabid animals, especially in terms of vaccination and rabies prevention and control for dogs and cats. Furthermore, they must ensure full compliance with rabies prophylaxis treatment when bitten by animals, especially dogs and cats.

It is imperative to instruct and require households raising dogs, cats, and other animals with the potential to transmit diseases to fully implement regulations regarding breeding, confining, managing, declaring, vaccinating, and preventing rabies. Accordingly, residents are advised to refrain from allowing their dogs and cats to roam freely. When traveling with pets to public locations, crowded and residential areas, and apartment buildings, pet owners are required to manage and implement measures to ensure safety for surrounding people and environmental sanitation. Notably, dogs are required to wear muzzles, be on a leash, and be accompanied by a person.

Furthermore, relevant parties must urgently organize rabies vaccination for dogs, cats. Consequently, at least 80% of the total dog and cat population in each region must be vaccinated against rabies in 2024 and subsequent years.

The People's Committees at all levels, relevant departments and branches, especially veterinary and health agencies, must timely monitor, alert, and apply measures for rabies prevention and control. Additionally, they are requested to compile and accurately report information on dog-raising households, the number of dogs raised, rabies vaccination rate in a given neighborhood, residential area, village, commune, and the overall state of rabies infection to the Veterinary Animal Health Information System (VAHIS).

Relevant parties must enhance the handling of violations with regards to the breeding and management of dogs and cats; conduct investigations, prosecutions, and handle cases of non-compliance with regulations with regards to the breeding and management of dogs and cats.

Relevant parties must identify and handle organizations, individuals, and officials who failed to perform their duties with regards to rabies prevention and control, with an emphasis on regions with a high number of deaths from rabies, such as the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Binh Phuoc, Ben Tre, Nghe An, Dien Bien, and regions with a vaccination rate at below 10% of the total dog population, such as the provinces of Quang Binh, Hau Giang, Binh Dinh, and Quang Nam.

Relevant parties must review and adjust the local rabies prevention and control plans for 2024 and subsequent years; proactively allocate sufficient resources to effectively implement rabies prevention and control measures, and accomplish the goals under the "National Rabies Prevention and Control Program from 2022 to 2030".

Relevant parties must establish a task force to inspect and urge local governments with low rates of rabies vaccination coverage for dog and cat populations and regions with a high number of deaths from rabies, to deploy rabies vaccination, control, and management activities for the dog and cat populations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and local governments to organize extensive and in-depth communication campaigns on dog and cat management, as well as other animals that pose a risk of rabies transmission, and preventive measures against rabies. These activities aim to ensure that relevant agencies and the public are informed regarding the state of local rabies infection.

The Ministry will monitor, issue warnings, perform information sharing, investigate and handle rabies outbreaks, assess risks, and implement rabies prevention and control measures. Moreover, the Ministry will collaborate with international organizations and other countries to support rabies control in Vietnam in terms of disease prevention and control efforts. Inspection teams will be established to monitor and provide guidance on rabies prevention and control in regions at high risk of outbreak.

The Ministry will coordinate with relevant agencies and local governments to review relevant legal regulations regarding the breeding and management of dogs, cats and other potentially rabies-transmitting animals, as well as the prevention and control of rabies, to timely alert relevant authorities. Consequently, these activities will enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement. Furthermore, relevant parties must strictly handle violations, and thoroughly address the issue of stray dogs and cats biting humans in public areas.

The Ministry is responsible for compiling the results of rabies prevention and control efforts on humans and animals on an annual basis. Subsequently, the Ministry will timely propose necessary rabies prevention and control measures.

The Ministry of Health will direct local governments and specialized agencies to guide, organize, implement, inspect, and monitor of rabies vaccination and rabies immune globulin administration for humans.

The Ministry of Education and Training will coordinate with other ministries and local governments to organize the development and implementation of school-based communication activities on rabies prevention and control.

The Ministry of Information and Communications will direct press agencies, news outlets, central radio stations, and grassroots media organizations to conduct extensive and profound communication campaigns with the aim of enhancing public awareness and responsibility in raising, managing dogs, cats, and other potentially disease-causing pets, as well as in vaccination and rabies prevention and control.

The Ministry of Public Security will collaborate with local People's Committees to direct local police forces to proactively monitor the state of rabies infection, promptly investigate and strictly handle cases of non-compliance with regulations on the breeding and management of dogs.

The Ministry of Health issued a Dispatch on March 15 to the Chairpersons of local People's Committees regarding the urgent implementation of rabies prevention and control measures.

The Ministry of Health requested provinces and cities to fully and effectively implement the contents of the National Program for Rabies Prevention and Control from 2022 to 2030.

Ministry of Health's advice on rabies prevention

To proactively prevent rabies, the Ministry of Health advises pet owners to ensure that dogs and cats are fully vaccinated against rabies and receive booster shots annually. Dogs should be kept on a leash or confined, and when taken outdoors, they should wear a muzzle.

Additionally, pet owners should ensure that their dogs and cats receive full rabies vaccinations and annual booster shots as recommended by veterinary agencies. Dogs should be kept on a leash or confined, and when taken outdoors, they should wear a muzzle. Playful teasing or disturbing of dogs and cats should be avoided.

In the event of a dog or cat bite, the wound must be immediately rinsed under running water with soap continuously for 15 minutes. If soap is not available, the wound can be flushed with plain water. Subsequently, the wound should be thoroughly cleaned with 70% alcohol or iodine.

Avoid applying pressure or tight bandaging to the wound. Seek medical attention at healthcare facilities for examination, consultation, and rabies vaccination and immunoglobulin administration. Avoid self-treatment or seeking treatment from alternative medicines.

Educational campaigns should instruct children on how to prevent dog and cat bites, and inform their parents or guardians immediately after being bitten by a dog or cat.