How a rabid dog entered a school and bit 14 students and teachers

Quang Ninh An unmuzzled dog entered a school at noon and attacked 14 students and teachers before being chased out by security guards.

On March 3, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Principal of Duc Yen Primary and Secondary School, Duc Yen Commune, Dam Ha District, said that at noon on February 28, it was raining so the school opened the gate for parents to enter the school to beat their children. At that time, seeing a dog weighing a few kilos enter, some primary school students approached and teased it. The closest student was lightly bitten on the leg.

"Seeing a student being bitten by a dog, the teacher ran out and tried to chase it away with his foot, but was also scratched. The dog continued to run away and scratched 12 other students," said Mr. Cuong, adding that the school immediately called the commune health station for instructions on how to handle the situation, and reported to local authorities to search for the dog.

The school also invited parents to come and receive medical advice, and take their children for vaccinations and rabies serum injections in the afternoon.

The dog that attacked people was captured and destroyed after testing positive for rabies. Local authorities have not identified the owner of the animal. "Fortunately, the health of the students and the teacher is normal now," said Mr. Cuong.

The rabies prevention working group of Duc Yen commune vaccinated dogs owned by local people. Photo: DDCI Dam Ha — The rabies prevention working group of Duc Yen commune vaccinated dogs with rabies vaccine. Photo: *DDCI Dam Ha*

Immediately after 14 people were bitten by dogs, Duc Yen commune, Dam Ha district - home to 938 dogs and cats - was identified as a rabies epidemic area. Duc Yen commune broadcast announcements on loudspeakers and mobile propaganda on commune police vehicles about the dangerous nature of rabies and preventive measures before and after exposure for humans and animals.

The commune also established a control team to destroy dogs and cats that were roaming around without muzzles and without managers; required households raising dogs and cats in 4/4 villages (120 households) to sign a commitment to implement rabies prevention measures; organized vaccinations, disinfecting sprays, and sprinkling lime powder at schools.

Mr. Hoang Vinh Khuyen, Chairman of Dam Ha District People's Committee, directed localities to accurately count the number of dogs and cats raised by each household, strictly handle cases of letting unmuzzled dogs and cats out on the street, and vaccinate 100% of dogs and cats raised in the district before March 10.

Quang Ninh CDC said that since the beginning of 2024, there have been no recorded cases of rabies in humans. However, the province has had 483 cases of rabies exposure prophylaxis and three rabies outbreaks in dogs in three communes of Dam Ha district, including Tan Binh commune, Dam Ha town and Duc Yen commune.

Le Tan

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