Focus on controlling and eliminating rabies

Phu Huong DNUM_CCZAGZCACB 07:24

(Baonghean.vn) - Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Dang Van Minh - Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine about the dangers of the disease as well as Nghe An's efforts in controlling and eliminating rabies in the province.

PV:Can you tell us about the dangers of rabies to human and animal health?
Mr. Dang Van Minh:According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies is a common disease worldwide, caused by a virus, and about 99% of rabies cases are transmitted to humans by domestic dogs.
Animals infected with rabies can transmit the disease to other animals or humans through bites. In some cases, the disease can be transmitted through contact of saliva with open wounds or mucous membranes such as the eyes or nose. For example, if an infected animal that is still in the incubation period licks a wound on your skin, you can become infected.Dog biteIf not vaccinated, rabies can develop.

The risk of rabies infection depends on many factors, such as whether the animal is rabid or not, the amount of virus in the animal's saliva, whether the wound is shallow or deep, whether the wound is cleaned and disinfected promptly after being bitten by a dog, etc.

Chú thích
Animals infected with rabies will infect other animals or humans through bites. Illustration photo

There is currently no effective treatment for rabies after clinical signs appear. Immediate vaccination after dog bite remains the most effective prevention and protection.

Every year, rabies still kills 60,000 - 70,000 people and millions of animals worldwide. This is an extremely dangerous disease, when it breaks out, 100% of both the bitten person and the bitten animal die. However, many people are still negligent, do not understand the disease well, so they are very subjective or treat it incorrectly, endangering their lives.

PV:Thus, this disease causes a very high mortality rate in humans and animals. So in reality, how has the work of preventing and controlling rabies been carried out in our province over the past years, sir?

Mr. Dang Van Minh:To prevent and minimize the harmful effects of rabies, management andvaccination for dogs and catsis a solution of primary importance. And in vaccination, to achieve the highest immune efficiency, the vaccination rate must reach at least 70% of the total herd; at the same time, additional vaccination 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.

Pursuant to Decision No. 193/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on approving the National Program to control and eliminate rabies in the period of 2017-2021; on November 29, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 708/KH-UBND on implementing the National Program to control and eliminate rabies in the period of 2018-2021 in Nghe An province.

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To prevent and minimize the harmful effects of rabies, managing and vaccinating dogs and cats is a solution of primary importance. Illustrative photo

By the end of 2020, localities had implemented Plan 708/KH-UBND and achieved some remarkable results. Rabies epidemics in animals as well as in humans decreased annually; in 2020, there were 6 human deaths due to rabies, a decrease of 3 cases compared to 2019 and a decrease of 9 cases compared to 2016. Localities have implemented dog management; information and propaganda on rabies prevention and control have been improved; investigation and monitoring work to promptly detect outbreaks in some districts such as Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Nghia Dan, etc. has been well implemented.

However, there are still some districts that have not implemented the plan fully and resolutely, have not allocated funds to implement the program, there are still many stray dogs, the annual rabies vaccination rate for dogs is low... In order to increase the effectiveness of immunity for livestock, every year, in the whole province, Nghe An organizes 2 vaccination campaigns in April, May and September, October. However, the vaccination rate is still very low despite the propaganda work being promoted in many forms. The average rabies vaccination rate is only less than 30% of the total dog population; for many years it has only reached over 25%, equivalent to less than 130,000 dogs; even some districts such as Ky Son, Que Phong... have not vaccinated. This is a factor that leads to a very high risk in ensuring safety for people and pets, especially during the hot season.

PV:According to you, to proactively prevent and control rabies effectively, minimize the number of deaths, and provide annual preventive treatment for rabies, what solutions need to be urgently promoted both in the short term and in the long term?
Mr. Dang Van Minh:It must be reaffirmed that vaccination is the most important measure in rabies prevention and control. In order for vaccination to achieve high results, local Party committees and authorities must really get involved, continue to effectively implement the local rabies prevention and control plan at the end of 2021, and prioritize budget allocation for implementation. Organize a summary of the Plan to control and eliminate rabies for the period 2018-2021 in the area, evaluate and analyze in detail the contents and results achieved; the contents that have not been done, the problems, inadequacies, difficulties, causes and solutions; propose specific contents and solutions for disease prevention and control for the upcoming period 2022-2030, and report to the Provincial People's Committee.
Focus on directing the organization of vaccination of dogs to reach 100% of the vaccination coverage according to regulations; regularly vaccinate dogs that are old enough to be vaccinated but have not been vaccinated, avoiding missing those who need to be vaccinated. Update changes in the dog population, sign commitments with households that have just raised dogs, continue to propagate compliance with keeping dogs on leashes, having someone lead them when going out, and muzzling them according to regulations.

Cán bộ thú y huyện Đô Lương tiêm phòng vắc-xin cho đàn chó nhà của người dân. Ảnh: Phú hương
Veterinary staff of Do Luong district vaccinate dogs of local people. Photo: Phu Huong

Organize training on rabies prevention and control techniques, dog catching skills for vaccination and investigation and handling of outbreaks for the team in charge of veterinary work at the grassroots level, and the commune-level dog catching team. At the same time, update information on the number of people who have to receive rabies preventive treatment due to dog bites to investigate animal epidemics, take samples for testing of suspected cases of rabies in dogs, report and handle outbreaks at the facility promptly.

In particular, increase the time for propaganda on rabies prevention and control so that people understand and actively participate; organize the construction of disease-safe areas, especially in tourist areas, urban areas, towns, densely populated areas... in the area.
The health sector needs to ensure adequate quantities of vaccines and anti-rabies serum to promptly vaccinate people bitten by dogs and cats with or suspected of having rabies. Strengthen and expand the number of vaccination and anti-rabies serum injection points to serve preventive treatment, ensuring timely and effective treatment, especially in high-risk areas; investigate the epidemiology of rabies in livestock in areas related to patients.

Rabies is responsible for more than 70 deaths in Vietnam each year, and most cases of rabies in Vietnam are caused by dog ​​bites. With an average of 10 deaths and 7,000 people bitten by dogs requiring preventive treatment each year, Nghe An is one of 16 provinces at high risk of rabies.


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