Risk of spreading rabies in the livestock herd

Bài liên quan

Hanoi to gradually eradicate rabies

According to the Bac Kan Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, since the beginning of 2023, the whole province has detected six rabies outbreaks in the livestock herd. Rabies occurred in five communes in three districts, including Cho Don, Ngan Son, and Bach Thong. The total number of infected, dead, and compulsorily destroyed dogs was 15 heads.

Most recently, on October 21, a family in Na Rao village, Nguyen Phuc commune (Bach Thong district), had a dog herd infected with rabies. The infected dog bit four people in the village.

On October 25, the Bach Thong District People's Committee announced an animal rabies epidemic in Nguyen Phuc commune. The District Agricultural Service Center destroyed the dog herd, sprayed and disinfected the outbreak area, and investigated the epidemiology of contacts and sources of infection in the family and community for rabies preventive treatment.

In Bach Thong district, Cam Giang commune, there is also an outbreak of rabies in the dog herd. This outbreak has not been over for 21 days without new cases arising.

Mr. Lang Van Thuy, Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Bach Thong district, said that the dog herd in the district has a total of more than 5,000 heads. Since March, the locality has implemented vaccination against rabies for the dog herd. As of now, the vaccination rate has achieved more than 80% of the plan. After the epidemic occurred, the Center coordinated with the local government to make a plan to destroy all dogs and cats infected, suspected of being sick, and unvaccinated livestock in case the rabies epidemic occurred on a large scale.

“Currently, specialized agencies are urgently carrying out additional vaccinations for unvaccinated heads and surrounding the outbreak, areas threatened by the epidemic, and buffer zones. Grassroots veterinarians are strengthening inspections and visits to grasp the epidemic situation and promptly have plans to prevent the epidemic from spreading widely, thereby minimizing possible damage," Mr. Thuy added.

Among the six outbreaks in Bac Kan province, up to now Bang Phuc commune (Cho Don district) and Van Tung town (Ngan Son district) have declared the end of the epidemic, while Bang Lung town (Cho Don district) has announced the second occurrence of the epidemic.

According to statistics, the total population of the dog and cat herd in Bac Kan province is nearly 51,000. However, during the peak period of rabies vaccination in 2023, the vaccination rate only reaches about 58% of the total herd. In particular, in some communes in highland areas, the vaccination rate is extremely low.

Most worryingly, in most localities, the situation of loose dogs without muzzles is still common, leading to a danger to people when the epidemic situation becomes complicated. Letting dogs roam free has been going on for many years, but grassroots governments have not yet had effective solutions to reduce this situation.

Mr. Do Xuan Viet, Director of the Bac Kan Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, said that in many highland villages and hamlets, the area is large while the grassroots veterinary force is thin and raisers mainly let their dogs roam free. Therefore, vaccination faces many difficulties, and the vaccination rate is often low.

In the coming time, specialized agencies will continue additional vaccinations. The Sub-Department is coordinating with the health sector to disseminate and raise people's awareness about contacting rabies-infected objects, especially dogs. In addition, localities also need to focus on disseminating the need for people to wear muzzles for dogs when letting them roam free, so that everyone knows the necessity of keeping their family and community safe.

Specialized agencies recommend that, in order to prevent rabies, dog and cat raisers comply with registration, keep them chained, not let loose, and have them fully vaccinated against rabies. In cases of dog or cat bites, the wound must be cleaned and disinfected, and the patient must immediately go to the nearest medical facility for timely consultation and rabies vaccination.