Don't gamble with rabies.

VHO - Dogs and cats are familiar pets in many families, but carelessness after seemingly harmless bites and scratches is still putting many people at risk of rabies infection. While this disease is almost incurable once it develops, proper treatment and timely vaccination remain the most effective "shield" to protect lives.

Pets need to be carefully managed, not allowed to roam freely, and fully vaccinated against rabies. (Illustrative image)

The bites were overlooked.

Prolonged heatwaves are increasing the risk of dog and cat bites or scratches. At the Vaccination Center of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the number of people coming for rabies serum and vaccine injections has increased significantly in the last days of May. On some mornings, in less than 30 minutes, the center received numerous cases requiring preventive injections.

Among them, Mr. NVB (67 years old, residing in Soc Son, Hanoi ) is a case that particularly concerns the doctors. Two weeks before being hospitalized, he was bitten on the palm of his hand by his pet dog when he intervened to stop it from attacking a calf. The wound was only about 1cm long, so he assumed the dog, having been raised since it was a puppy, posed no risk of carrying rabies and had not been vaccinated.

However, two weeks later, the dog suddenly stopped eating and died. At this point, the family rushed him to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. According to the doctors, the two-week delay significantly increased the risk of exposure.

A similar subjective mindset was also observed in Mr. NTA (23 years old, residing in Vinh Thanh ward, Hanoi). After buying a kitten about two months old, he was bitten on the hand while feeding it. Just three days later, the kitten died suddenly for unknown reasons. Assuming the pet died from a common illness, he did not immediately get vaccinated. Only after repeated reminders from relatives did he go to the hospital to receive anti-rabies serum and vaccine.

In contrast to the two cases above, Mrs. NTH (65 years old, residing in Dong Anh, Hanoi) chose the right course of action from the start. After being bitten on the toe by her neighbor's dog, resulting in a wound about 1cm wide, she didn't wait to monitor the animal's condition but went to a medical facility for rabies vaccination the very next day.

According to doctors, the difference between subjective mindset and timely intervention can determine the effectiveness of disease prevention. Early vaccination helps the body create protective antibodies in time, forming immunity before the virus has a chance to invade and attack the central nervous system.

Don't wait until it's too late.

You may also like

90% of dogs and cats have been vaccinated against rabies.The city requires all communes, wards, and special zones to achieve a 100% rabies vaccination rate for all pet dogs and cats in their areas.

Urgent contact tracing is being conducted after a dog tested positive for rabies.SKĐS - Nghe An CDC is urgently reviewing people exposed to the virus after a dog tested positive for rabies. Vaccination and public awareness campaigns are being intensified to prevent rabies.

Controlling rabies outbreaks is crucial for public health.From the beginning of 2026 to the present, Dong Nai province has recorded 38 outbreaks of rabies in dogs across 26 communes and wards, an increase of 12 outbreaks compared to the same period last year.

According to Dr. Nguyen Nguyen Huyen, Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, rabies is a particularly dangerous acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus. Once the disease develops, the mortality rate is almost absolute, and to date, there is still no specific treatment.

What makes rabies so dangerous is that the virus can remain in the bodies of dogs and cats for months before the animal shows symptoms. The fact that pets continue to eat and behave normally doesn't mean they aren't carrying the disease. Therefore, waiting for dogs and cats to get sick or die before getting vaccinated can cause those exposed to the virus to miss the crucial time for protection.

"With bites on the head, face, neck, or areas with a high concentration of nerve endings such as fingertips, toes, and genitals, the virus can travel very quickly to the central nervous system. Every day of delay reduces the chances of being protected," warned Dr. Nguyen Nguyen Huyen.

Based on this reality, doctors advise people to take immediate action after being bitten or scratched by a dog or cat. The wound should be washed under running water with soap for about 15 minutes, then disinfected with 70% alcohol or iodine alcohol, and promptly taken to a medical facility for risk assessment and administration of rabies serum or vaccine if necessary. Traditional remedies such as applying herbal poultices, traditional medicine, or trying to "draw out the poison" are ineffective in preventing the disease.

Despite widespread recommendations over the years, delays in rabies prevention remain quite common. Dr. Huynh Tran An Khuong, a medical specialist at the VNVC Vaccination System, stated that many people still underestimate the danger of exposure situations. As a result, rabies continues to claim many lives each year.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, in just the first four months of the year, three deaths from rabies have been recorded, nearly equaling the total number of deaths for the entire previous year. A common factor in many cases is complacency. Many people only seek medical attention when the wound is deep or bleeding heavily.

However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rabies virus exists in the saliva of infected animals and can be transmitted through bites, scratches, abrasions, or when saliva comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Even a very small injury can become an entry point for the virus to enter the body.

Dr. Huynh Tran An Khuong noted that risk assessment should not be based on the perceived severity of the wound. The important thing is to determine whether or not there was contact between the animal's saliva and the damaged skin or mucous membrane. In fact, many people miss the opportunity for prevention simply because they think they "only got a minor scratch" or "it was just licked on a small cut, so it's okay."

To minimize the risk of exposure during the hot season, veterinarians recommend that pet owners closely manage their pets, avoid letting them roam freely, muzzle dogs when taking them to public places, and ensure that dogs and cats aged 2 months and older receive full annual rabies vaccinations.

For children and adults, avoid behaviors that easily provoke pets, such as hugging, pulling ears, stepping on tails, or approaching dogs and cats while they are eating or caring for their young. When encountering a strange dog, do not run away or stare into its eyes; instead, stand still and slowly back away to avoid agitating it.

You may also like

Failure to muzzle or vaccinate dogs against rabies can result in fines of up to 2 million VND.From August 1st, 2026, many violations in the veterinary field will be severely punished according to new regulations, including the act of not muzzling dogs in public places and not vaccinating against rabies, which may be fined up to 2 million VND.

The newly established Phu Tho province (comprising the former Hoa Binh and Vinh Phuc provinces) has stockpiled over 1 million doses of vaccines for livestock and poultry diseases.The newly established Phu Tho province (comprising the former Hoa Binh and Vinh Phuc provinces) currently stocks millions of doses of vaccines for livestock and poultry, along with 15,000 liters of disinfectant chemicals, to proactively respond to and control outbreaks and prevent widespread transmission.

A significant step forward in building a humane veterinary system and controlling rabies.When local veterinary staff are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to handle animals humanely, government agencies will have a solid foundation for effective disease control...

Doctors also emphasized that people who have been scratched or bitten by dogs or cats, or who have come into contact with other warm-blooded mammals, need to fully comply with the vaccination schedule as prescribed by professionals, and should not skip doses or stop vaccinations midway.

The number of injections will be determined by the doctor based on the vaccination history, the extent of the injury, the condition of the animal, and the health of the exposed person. For those who have never been vaccinated against rabies, the usual regimen consists of 5 intramuscular injections or 8 intradermal injections according to the prescribed schedule. In some cases with severe injuries, an additional tetanus vaccine may be needed for safety.

Rabies is one of the few infectious diseases that modern medicine is almost powerless against once symptoms appear, but it can be effectively prevented if treated correctly and vaccinated promptly. In the race against the rabies virus, the deciding factor is not the depth of the bite but the proactive approach of each individual. A single moment of carelessness can cost a life, while a timely injection can prevent irreversible consequences.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/dung-danh-cuoc-voi-benh-dai-234345.html