Rabies vaccination rate in Nghe An is only below 30%.
(Baonghean.vn) - With an average of 10 deaths and 8,000 people bitten by dogs requiring preventive treatment each year, Nghe An is one of 16 provinces at high risk of rabies. Localities and relevant sectors need to coordinate solutions to limit the harm caused by this dangerous contagious disease.
Low vaccination rates
According to Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, to achieve the highest immune efficiency,dog vaccination, cats must reach at least 70% of the total herd, and additional vaccinations must be given to dogs and cats that have arisen or have not been vaccinated, especially in districts where there have been cases of human deaths due to rabies.
In November 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Plan on implementing the National Program to Control and Eliminate Rabies in Nghe An Province for the period 2018-2021. Every year, the province has allocated over 1 billion VND to implement the National Program to Control Rabies.
In order to increase the immune effectiveness of livestock, every year, the whole province organizes two vaccination campaigns in April and May and September and October. Communication and guidance on rabies prevention and control measures are regularly organized on the loudspeaker system of communes and hamlets, posters, banners, seminars, specialized reports, and related training.
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| Dog vaccination in Dien Chau. |
However, the current reality is that the vaccination rate is still extremely low despite the comprehensive measures that have been implemented. Every year, the average rabies vaccination rate in the province is only less than 30% of the total dog population; for many years it is only over 25%, equivalent to less than 130 dogs; even some mountainous districts such as Ky Son, Que Phong... have not vaccinated.
According to Mr. Vo Dinh Khoa - Do Luong District Agricultural Service Center, the current difficulty is that there is no support policy for cases of risk after vaccination for dogs and cats; besides, breeders have to pay 100% of the vaccination cost, although it only includes 13,000 VND/vaccine dose and 5,600 VND for injection fee/dog, but many households still do not vaccinate.
Synchronize multiple solutions
In order for rabies vaccination to achieve high results, local authorities must really get involved, arrange enough forces, equipment and materials to organize vaccination. In particular, it is necessary to strictly apply and handle violations of regulations on dog breeding and rabies vaccination as stipulated in Decree No. 90/2017/ND-CP dated July 31, 2017 of the Government; establish working groups to strengthen inspection, urge and guide the implementation of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats in districts and cities, especially in localities with low rabies vaccination results for dogs and cats.
“Localities must make a list of dog-raising households for management by counting the number of dogs in each household, grasping the increase or decrease in the dog population as a basis for developing plans and assigning vaccination targets. Make a record of commitment for dog-raising households not to let their dogs roam freely, and to wear muzzles and leashes for dogs when taking them out in public. Strictly punish households that do not comply and must compensate for damages if their dogs bite people according to current regulations. Dog owners must declare their dog-raising to the head of the residential group, hamlet chief, and village chief, and at the same time commit to keeping or chaining and keeping dogs within the family's premises; when going out, someone must lead and muzzle the dogs.”
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| Veterinary staff vaccinate animals against rabies in Nghi Loc. |
The health sector must strengthen the surveillance of rabies in humans, publicize the addresses of medical facilities, especially rabies vaccination sites for humans in the area, and guide people bitten by suspected rabid animals to the nearest medical facility to treat their wounds and receive timely rabies vaccination and anti-rabies serum, preventing the risk of death from rabies. It is strictly forbidden for organizations and individuals to use unapproved medical techniques or drugs that have not been licensed for circulation to examine and treat people with rabies or people bitten by dogs or cats, including oriental medicine, traditional medicine, and family remedies.
Along with that, improving professional capacity in rabies prevention and control also needs attention. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen training for veterinary and medical staff on dog management capacity; investigation, monitoring, and diagnosis of rabies; rabies communication skills; wound treatment techniques; post-exposure prophylaxis procedures; skills in catching rabid dogs and measures to handle animal rabies outbreaks.Every year, conduct good surveillance of rabies circulation to warn the community; create maps of dog distribution, maps of rabies epidemiology in humans and animals to identify areas at high risk of rabies in order to prioritize resources in rabies prevention and control, as well as strengthen research, coordinate with businesses to produce rabies vaccines, proactively supply vaccines domestically and reduce vaccine product costs.
In particular, encourage communes, wards and towns in inner cities and tourist areas to build rabies-safe areas and facilities to ensure safety for the community and tourists.
Rabies is a disease transmitted between animals and humans. The incubation period in animals can last from a few days to a few months, possibly longer, but before 10 days of illness, the virus can infect humans and other animals. Rabies virus is abundant in the saliva of dogs, cats and infected animals, even when the animal has no clinical signs.