According to a report released on December 13 by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine, Binh Thuan Province recorded the highest number of rabies-related deaths, with 10 cases. It was followed by Dak Lak and Nghe An provinces, with seven cases each, and Gia Lai with six.
Rabies-related deaths in Vietnam are largely due to the failure to receive timely and complete post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following bites from suspected rabid animals, the department said.
Delays or omissions in vaccination, coupled with the use of ineffective traditional remedies, significantly increase the risk of mortality. Additionally, poor control of dog and cat populations and low vaccination rates among these animals (approximately 50 percent) exacerbate rabies.
Vietnam experienced an average of over 70 rabies-related human deaths per year between 2017 and 2021, with dogs and cats identified as the primary sources of infection.
The Department of Preventive Medicine emphasised that early detection of potential rabies cases and prompt vaccination are crucial for preventing human fatalities. Rabies vaccination has been demonstrated to be more effective and cost-effective than post-exposure treatment in humans.