Be prepared for the risk of rabies outbreaks during the summer.

Rising temperatures during the summer create favorable conditions for rabies – one of the most deadly infectious diseases – to re-emerge in the community. Failure to receive timely vaccination after being bitten by a suspected rabid animal remains a leading cause of many tragic deaths.

Báo Lào Cai•04/06/2025

These deaths could have been prevented.

The National Children's Hospital recently admitted an 8-year-old child from Vinh Phuc province in critical condition. Before admission, the child exhibited symptoms of fever, headache, and altered consciousness, which rapidly progressed to difficulty swallowing and respiratory failure. Tests confirmed the cause was encephalitis caused by the rabies virus. After four days of intensive treatment, the prognosis was fatal as the child developed severe respiratory failure and irreversible brain damage.

First aid and vaccination for children attacked by dogs at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

According to family members, about five months ago, the child was bitten on the leg by a family dog but did not receive a rabies vaccine. The time gap between the bite and the onset of symptoms leads many to mistakenly believe that the risk has passed, but in reality, the incubation period for rabies in humans can last from several weeks to several months, depending on the location and severity of the wound.

According to Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of VNVC Vaccination Center System, the high-risk period for rabies in Vietnam is from May to August each year. The incubation period for rabies is usually long and onset is delayed, lasting several weeks or even years, depending on the severity and location of the bite. Deep, severe bites, especially those near the central nervous system such as the head, face, neck, or sensitive areas with many nerve endings like the extremities and external genitalia, will have a shorter incubation period and very early onset. In reality, there have been many unfortunate cases where victims mistakenly thought they were attacked by dogs, cats, or other pets, or that after an attack, they would be fine if they didn't see any unusual symptoms. By the time the animal dies and people panic and get vaccinated, it's too late; the rabies virus has already entered the body and traveled to the brain. There is no cure, and 100% of victims face an extremely painful and tragic death.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 59,000 deaths from rabies are recorded globally each year, with over 95% occurring in Asia and Africa. Vietnam is one of the countries where rabies is still prevalent, with dozens of deaths recorded annually, mainly in rural areas – where pet dogs are often allowed to roam freely, are not fully vaccinated, and people have limited access to health information.

More worryingly, children aged 5-14 are the most vulnerable. They often play with dogs and cats without realizing the danger. Many parents are negligent, failing to closely monitor their children when bitten or only providing superficial first aid instead of taking them for timely vaccination.

"The rabies virus leaves no room for error. Once symptoms appear, the chances of survival are almost zero, with a mortality rate of nearly 100%," Dr. Chinh emphasized.

Identify risks and take timely action.

The rabies virus is usually transmitted through the saliva of infected animals via bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucous membranes and open wounds. During the summer, the hot weather makes dogs and cats more agitated and prone to attacking people. This is also the time when people often let their pets roam freely, while young children play outdoors more, increasing the risk of contact with animals suspected of having rabies.

The clinical symptoms of rabies in humans usually manifest in two main forms: the furious form and the paralytic form. In the furious form, the patient will exhibit fever, insomnia, loss of appetite, along with hydrophobia and aerophobia – characteristic signs when the rabies virus affects the nervous system. As the disease progresses, the patient will experience excessive salivation, inability to swallow, pharyngeal convulsions, and rapid death.

Paralytic rabies is common in people bitten by rabid dogs but who receive the vaccine too late. The disease progresses more insidiously, beginning with muscle paralysis at the bite site and gradually spreading to the respiratory muscles. Although the initial symptoms are not severe, death still occurs if not treated promptly.

However, rabies is completely preventable with timely vaccination. Current rabies vaccines are highly effective and safe, and can be used for both adults and children. Post-exposure vaccination is mandatory after being bitten by a dog or cat, especially if the source is unknown or rabies is suspected.

Furthermore, mandatory vaccination for pets, especially dogs and cats, is the first line of defense. The current Veterinary Law clearly stipulates the responsibilities of pet owners in vaccinating, managing, and controlling their dogs. However, the rabies vaccination rate for dogs has not yet reached a safe level for the community in many localities.

Health experts recommend strengthening community communication, especially in rural and mountainous areas where access to healthcare services is limited. Parents should instruct children not to tease or chase dogs and cats, always supervise them when playing outdoors, and take them to a medical facility immediately if they are scratched or bitten by a dog or cat, even if it's just a minor wound.

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Source: https://baolaocai.vn/de-phong-nguy-co-benh-dai-bung-phat-trong-mua-he-post402810.html