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Published Date: 2012-07-28 16:50:48
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies - Viet Nam: canine, human
Archive Number: 20120728.1218715

RABIES - VIET NAM: CANINE, HUMAN
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Date: Mon 23 Jul 2012
Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong [edited by Mods.QCN/YMA]
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2012/7/102159/

The northern mountainous provinces of Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai have reported an outbreak of rabies, after 200 people were bitten by dogs, 16 people having died from the deadly disease.

In Yen Bai Province, the local Department of Animal Health said that more than 100 dogs were rabid, and 130 residents in Mu Cang Chai District were suffering from the disease, most of them being children. So far, 3 people have died from the infection.

Nguyen Van The, director of the health center in Mu Cang Chai District, said this is the 1st time rabies has broken out in the district, so people are not aware and avoid going to clinics for anti-rabies vaccination.

In Yen Binh District in Yen Bai Province, tens of people have been bitten by dogs, while 2 of them died due to negligence.

The Department of Animal Health said that rabies is quite widespread, but the department staff is facing difficulties in injecting dogs as the province is so large.

Son La Province saw the disease last summer [2012] and still suffers from it now. At least 7 people have died of the disease. Dogs belonging to residents are bitten by stray dogs and transmit the virus.

People need to protect their pet dogs and not allow them to roam freely without a leash. They need to take their pets for regular checkups to the local veterinary center.

[By P. Van]

--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS

[Although the newswire above reports that 130 rabies cases including 3 deaths were identified in Mu Cang Chai district of Lao Cai province, the reported time period of these cases is not mentioned. Local authorities should implement measures to raise awareness about cleaning and immunization for people who are exposed to rabies, and make the vaccines more available and affordable to people.

For maps of Viet Nam with provinces, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VietnameseProvincesMap.png. The interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with direct links to other outbreaks in Viet Nam andsurrounding countries reported on ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS can be accessed at
http://healthmap.org/r/008c. - Mods.QCN/YMA

Viet Nam has provided the OIE with the following data on human rabies cases for the years 2007, 2008, 2009: respectively, 128, 126 and 97 deaths. No quantitative data for 2010/2011 are (yet) available.
-- Mod AS.]

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