Vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies helps reduce the risk of transmission to humans (Illustrative photo: Shutterstock).
Vietnam recorded 39 deaths from rabies across 18 provinces and cities in the first half of 2026, according to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry said southern Vietnam accounted for 20 deaths, while 10 were recorded in the north and nine in the central and Central Highlands regions.
During the same period, rabies outbreaks in animals were reported in 24 provinces and cities. Compared with the first half of 2025, the number of outbreaks, infected animals, animal deaths and culls all increased.
Nguyen Dinh Dang, head of the Hanoi Department of Livestock Production, Fisheries and Animal Health, said the capital had recorded eight animal rabies outbreaks in six communes since the beginning of the year. Dozens of people required post-exposure vaccination after being bitten by animals suspected of carrying the virus.
Dang said rabies remained one of the country's most dangerous infectious diseases, posing risks throughout the breeding, transport, slaughter and trade of dogs and cats.
"Controlling vaccination, regulating the transport, slaughter and trade of dogs and cats, while avoiding the slaughter and consumption of dog and cat meat, may seem like small measures, but they are essential to eliminating rabies and preventing further deaths," Dang said.
Hanoi is home to nearly 360,000 dogs and cats, he said, adding that managing pets, animal transport and slaughter remained a major challenge. According to official data, all recorded rabies outbreaks in animals have originated in dogs.
The capital has not recorded a human rabies death since 2023, although the disease continues to circulate among animals.
According to the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, around 5,000 people seek medical consultation and preventive rabies treatment each month.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City recorded five rabies deaths in the first six months of the year. Health authorities said none of the victims had received rabies vaccination or rabies immunoglobulin after being bitten by dogs or cats.
Health experts stressed that rabies is almost invariably fatal once symptoms develop. However, they said the disease is entirely preventable through immediate wound care and timely post-exposure vaccination.