100% mortality rate from rabies if bitten by a rabid dog without vaccination.

According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Cap, from the Emergency Department of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, rabies is primarily transmitted through bites, scratches, or licks from a rabid animal on damaged skin. Rabies in humans can be prevented and treated prophylactically with vaccines or anti-rabies serum. Serum injections introduce pre-existing antibodies into the body to neutralize the rabies virus, while vaccines aim to strengthen long-term immunity.

Symptoms of rabies in humans include fear of water, fear of wind, convulsions, and paralysis. Once rabies symptoms appear, the mortality rate is almost 100% for both humans and animals.

Rabid dogs will exhibit changes in their usual behavior such as running aimlessly, hiding in dark places, panic, avoidance, biting without provocation, excessive salivation, or foaming at the mouth. Due to hunger, the animal may chew on anything, and many may become paralyzed in both legs, causing them to walk in circles...

Rabies cases typically increase during the summer months. The incubation period is long, ranging from a minimum of half a month to several months in most cases, and even up to several years in some individuals. The time it takes for symptoms to develop depends on the location of the dog bite. The closer the bite is to the central nervous system, the faster the victim will develop the disease. Therefore, those bitten on the head, face, or neck should receive rabies antiserum as soon as possible, within 12 hours of being bitten.

If you know for sure that the dog was rabid, sick, or died a day after biting you, you are in a high-risk group and need to receive anti-rabies serum first, followed by the rabies vaccine.

In cases of minor bites, occurring on the leg, far from the central nervous system, and where the animal appears normal at the time of the bite, the dog should be monitored for 10-15 days. During this monitoring period, if the dog stops eating, dies, or goes missing, it must be vaccinated against rabies immediately.

However, if you go to a medical facility late after a dog bite, the rabies antiserum will no longer be effective. It is best to get vaccinated immediately after being bitten. You must receive the full dose as prescribed, following the correct dosage, technique, and interval between injections as instructed.

When bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the wound must be immediately washed with soap and water or a strong saline solution, rinsed thoroughly with clean water several times, and an antiseptic such as alcohol applied. The sooner the wound is treated, the more effective the disinfection and prevention of rabies virus will be. Afterwards, the victim must go immediately to a medical facility for advice and preventive treatment.

People at high risk of contracting rabies, such as veterinarians, forest rangers, food processors, and children under 15 who often play outdoors and have close contact with dogs and cats, should get vaccinated against rabies.

The Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, recommends that families fully vaccinate their pet dogs and cats and give them booster shots annually as recommended by the veterinary industry. Do not let dogs and cats roam freely. Dogs must wear muzzles when going out. Do not play with or tease dogs and cats. Absolutely do not use traditional medicine, do not self-treat, and do not seek treatment from traditional healers for rabies.

On April 2nd and 3rd, a father and son in Hoa Binh province died one after the other after developing rabies from dog bites. Their family of four had all been bitten by dogs during the Lunar New Year holiday but had not received rabies vaccinations.

"It's regrettable that they could have completely avoided death by getting vaccinated after being bitten by a dog," Dr. Cap expressed.

Thuy An