The figures were shared at a conference in Hanoi on May 19 focused on promoting sustainable livelihoods and reducing dog and cat slaughter activities.
Officials said rabies cases tended to surge during summer, with four additional deaths recently reported in Dong Nai Province and Ho Chi Minh City.
Rabies outbreaks have also been recorded in animals in 78 communes across 19 provinces and cities, with 168 infected animals dying or being culled.
Experts warned that the transport, trading and slaughter of dogs and cats could contribute to the spread of the virus, posing risks to both consumers and workers involved in the supply chain.
Ngo Dinh Loat, deputy head of Hanoi’s Department of Livestock Production, Fisheries and Animal Health, said authorities were encouraging gradual changes in consumer habits and promoting alternatives to dog and cat meat.
Conference organisers said the initiative formed part of a broader project aimed at reducing rabies deaths and promoting safer, more sustainable livelihoods in Hanoi.
