Urgent telegram on strengthening the prevention and control of rabies in animals

(Baonghean) - In the face of the current complicated situation of rabies, to strengthen the work of rabies prevention, increase the rate of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, and protect people's health, on March 29, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued urgent dispatch No. 05/CD-UBND on strengthening the work of rabies prevention and control in animals. The content of the dispatch clearly states:

1. Chairman of People's Committee of districts, cities and towns:

- Direct specialized departments and offices to strengthen coordination with commune-level authorities to strictly implement rabies prevention and control work in the area according to the instructions in Appendix 15, Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; well implement the coordination regulations between local veterinary and health agencies in rabies prevention and control in Joint Circular No. 16/2013/TTLT-BYT-BNN&PTNT dated May 27, 2013 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Rabies virus. Illustration photo

- Districts, cities and towns with tourist areas: Encourage the construction of rabies-safe areas to ensure community safety and attract tourists to travel and visit.

- Direct the District Radio and Television Station and the commune loudspeaker system to: Step up information and propaganda work on the dangerous nature of Rabies, signs of dogs suspected of having Rabies and prevention and control measures. Especially, propagate to the people to monitor, detect and report to the authorities and veterinary agencies cases of dogs, cats and other animals suspected of having Rabies for handling; guide people bitten by dogs to immediately go to medical facilities to treat wounds and vaccinate people against Rabies, prevent death due to rabies dog bites, absolutely do not use traditional medicine to treat Rabies when bitten by a rabid dog.

- Direct the People's Committees of communes, wards and towns to organize, deploy and strictly implement the following solutions:

+ Conduct a review of the number of dogs and cats raised in the area; establish a dog management book, record fully and specifically each dog-raising household in each village, hamlet, and commune; the number of dogs raised; date, month, and year of rabies vaccination. Organize rabies vaccination for dogs and cats to reach 100% of the required vaccination (each year, each dog, only 01 rabies vaccine injection).

+ Specific regulations on catching and handling stray dogs in public places within the management area; sanctions for pet owners who do not comply with the provisions of the Veterinary Law.

+ Establish specialized teams to capture and handle stray dogs and animals with rabies or showing signs of rabies.

Illustration

+ Strengthen monitoring, early detection of animals infected with rabies or suspected of being infected with rabies, promptly report to specialized agencies for handling. Improve professional capacity in rabies prevention and control for veterinary and medical staff, dog catching teams: Dog herd management skills; disease investigation and monitoring; propaganda skills; communication skills; techniques for treating wounds caused by animal scratches and bites; dog catching skills...

- The Chairman of the District People's Committee must be criticized before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee if someone dies of rabies in the area due to rabies vaccination of dogs and cats that do not meet the requirements according to regulations.

2. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

Direct the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to coordinate with the Departments, Boards, and functional branches, and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to strengthen quarantine work, control the transportation and trading of dogs and cats according to regulations; thoroughly prevent the smuggling of dogs and cats across the border and strictly handle violations; provide adequate rabies vaccines to localities for vaccination. Focus on directing the first rabies vaccination for dogs and cats in 2017 to reach a rate of over 70% of the total herd, periodically vaccinate dogs that have not been vaccinated during the main season; monitor and promptly report when dogs and cats have rabies or are suspected of having rabies.

3. Department of Health:Ensure adequate quantities of vaccines, anti-rabies serum, and anti-rabies drugs to promptly vaccinate people suspected of being bitten by rabid dogs and cats. Complete and expand the number of vaccination and anti-rabies serum injection points to serve preventive treatment, ensuring timeliness and effectiveness, especially in high-risk areas. Coordinate with the veterinary sector to investigate the epidemiology of rabies in livestock in areas related to patients. Punish and prohibit the practice of medicine for individuals who use traditional medicine to treat rabies in people bitten by rabid dogs.

4. Department of Information and Communications, Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper:Closely coordinate with relevant Departments, Branches and organizations to strengthen information and propaganda work on mass media about the dangers of Rabies and prevention and control measures, especially in rural mountainous areas and areas at high risk of Rabies.

5. Department of Finance:In coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Health proactively allocates funding for the prevention and control of rabies in animals and humans: information and propaganda work; technical training; dog herd management; disease surveillance; vaccination organization; building disease-free areas...

6. Provincial Police:Direct the District Police to support the Veterinary Department and relevant sectors in organizing the implementation of rabies prevention and control work to ensure the safety of staff performing their duties and security and order in the locality.

7. Departments, Boards, Branches, organizations, armed forces:Based on the assigned functions and tasks, coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, and authorities at all levels to implement highly effective measures to prevent and control rabies. At the same time, promote information and propaganda on rabies prevention and control to officers and employees of agencies and units on compliance with legal regulations when raising dogs and cats and actively implementing preventive measures to protect themselves and the community.

8. For pet owners:

- Comply with the regular rabies vaccination plan and supplementary vaccination of the veterinary agency and local authorities. Pet owners must keep the vaccination certificate and present the certificate when requested by the inspection agency.

- Dogs must be chained, locked up or kept within the family compound at all times; environmental hygiene must be ensured and no negative impact on surrounding people must be adversely affected. Dog ownership must be registered with the People's Committee of the commune level; when taking dogs out in public, they must be leashed, muzzled and led by someone.

- When detecting pets showing unusual signs such as: suddenly becoming aggressive, scratching, afraid of water, afraid of wind, afraid of light, drooping jaw, howling intermittently, biting people or other animals, the pet owner must isolate the pet and immediately report to the local authorities or the nearest Veterinary Agency for timely handling.

- Dog and cat owners who do not comply with the provisions of the Veterinary Law and Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be subject to administrative penalties in the veterinary field; bear all costs in case a stray dog ​​is captured, including costs for raising and destroying the dog, and must compensate the victim if the dog or cat bites or scratches a person according to the provisions of law.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; Directors of Departments, Heads of Sectors to urgently and synchronously and effectively implement the above contents. During the implementation process, if there are any problems or difficulties, the units should report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for synthesis and submission to the Provincial People's Committee for timely resolution./.

Provincial People's Committee