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RABIES, HUMAN, CANINE - VIET NAM (02): REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Date: Wed 1 Jun 2009
Source: Viet Nam News [edited]
<http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=04SOC010709>
Rabies epidemic declared in north after 4 deaths
--------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Lai Chau Province announced a rabies epidemic after 4 people
died of of the disease and at least 500 people were been bitten by
rabid dogs in the last 2 months.
"The 500 cases only account for the number of patients who got a
rabies vaccine at the province's Preventive Healthcare Centre after
being bitten," said Do Van Giang, deputy director of Lai Chau
Province's Health Department, adding that the actual number of
infected people could be much higher.
Due to the high demand for dog meat, many local people transported
dogs from Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces. These dogs then infected
the local dogs, leading to the rabies outbreak, said Nguyen Cong
Huan, director of the province's Health Department.
"More people will die of rabies because they do not get the vaccine," he said.
The cost for the vaccine is high--- nearly VND1million (USD 56) for a
course 5 injections--- and 40 per cent of people in the province have
an average monthly income of VND200 000 (USD 11), according to Giang.
"My pregnant daughter was killed by a rabid dog because she couldn't
get the vaccine in time," said a 64-year-old [resident of] Lai Chau
Town, who recovered from [treatment for a bite from an animal that
most likely had rabies] after several days of treatment in the
province's hospital.
"Authorities should support patients like us and get us free
treatment. If not, we will not be able to afford the vaccine," said Thanh.
The province recently decreed that the poor would get free rabies
vaccines and others would get 50 per cent of the vaccine cost
subsidised, said Huan.
Some local ethnic minorities lack information about the disease and
choose to treat it with herbal remedies instead of getting the vaccine.
"Many people rush around looking for herbal medicine after being
bitten by dogs. However, this is useless and causes more harm because
there is no scientific basis for this treatment," said Bui Tien
Thanh, a doctor at the province's General Hospital.
Local health officers have handed out leaflets about rabies and
treatment to educate people about the disease and have asked anyone
who has been bitten by dogs to go to the Preventive Healthcare Centre
for treatment, according to Nguyen Van Ngoc, deputy director of the
Preventive Healthcare Centre.
"In addition, relevant authorities have increased the management of
dog transports from other provinces, and are more closely monitoring
the province's current canines," said Huan.
So far, the province's Veterinary Department has vaccinated 4 dogs
and cats in the province.
"It has been decades since the last rabies epidemic and the province
is trying to stop the spread of the disease as quickly as possible",
said Giang.
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[During January 2009, 19 people from Tan Phuc commune, Binh Thuan
district, Binh Thuan province were hospitalized in critical condition
due to delayed transportation from the province to Ho Chi Minh City
hospital. There were 57 cases and 2 deaths of rabies reported in Tan
Phuc commune from July to December 2008 (see prior PRO/MBDS posting
Rabies, human, canine - Viet Nam: (Binh Thuan), RFI 20090110.0101).
The above newswire mentions about the transportation of dogs from Phu
Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces to Lai Chau province caused the
importation of rabies outbreak in the province. More information from
reliable source on the recent condition of rabies infection in Phu
Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces would be highly appreciated.
ProMED-mail virology moderator Mod.CP had the following observation:
"Rabies in Viet Nam continues to be a problem partly on account of
lack of regulation of the trade of dog breeding and provision of
dog-meat for human consumption. Comprehensive vaccination of canines
would both protect human health and have long term economic benefits."
For maps of Viet Nam with provinces, see
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/vietnam_admin01.jpg>
and <http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html>. The interactive
HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with direct links to other outbreaks in
Viet Nam and surrounding countries reported on ProMED-mail and
PRO/MBDS can be accessed at <http://healthmap.org/r/008c>. - Mods.YMA/MPP]
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2..._ID:1040,78201
Date: Wed 1 Jun 2009
Source: Viet Nam News [edited]
<http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=04SOC010709>
Rabies epidemic declared in north after 4 deaths
--------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Lai Chau Province announced a rabies epidemic after 4 people
died of of the disease and at least 500 people were been bitten by
rabid dogs in the last 2 months.
"The 500 cases only account for the number of patients who got a
rabies vaccine at the province's Preventive Healthcare Centre after
being bitten," said Do Van Giang, deputy director of Lai Chau
Province's Health Department, adding that the actual number of
infected people could be much higher.
Due to the high demand for dog meat, many local people transported
dogs from Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces. These dogs then infected
the local dogs, leading to the rabies outbreak, said Nguyen Cong
Huan, director of the province's Health Department.
"More people will die of rabies because they do not get the vaccine," he said.
The cost for the vaccine is high--- nearly VND1million (USD 56) for a
course 5 injections--- and 40 per cent of people in the province have
an average monthly income of VND200 000 (USD 11), according to Giang.
"My pregnant daughter was killed by a rabid dog because she couldn't
get the vaccine in time," said a 64-year-old [resident of] Lai Chau
Town, who recovered from [treatment for a bite from an animal that
most likely had rabies] after several days of treatment in the
province's hospital.
"Authorities should support patients like us and get us free
treatment. If not, we will not be able to afford the vaccine," said Thanh.
The province recently decreed that the poor would get free rabies
vaccines and others would get 50 per cent of the vaccine cost
subsidised, said Huan.
Some local ethnic minorities lack information about the disease and
choose to treat it with herbal remedies instead of getting the vaccine.
"Many people rush around looking for herbal medicine after being
bitten by dogs. However, this is useless and causes more harm because
there is no scientific basis for this treatment," said Bui Tien
Thanh, a doctor at the province's General Hospital.
Local health officers have handed out leaflets about rabies and
treatment to educate people about the disease and have asked anyone
who has been bitten by dogs to go to the Preventive Healthcare Centre
for treatment, according to Nguyen Van Ngoc, deputy director of the
Preventive Healthcare Centre.
"In addition, relevant authorities have increased the management of
dog transports from other provinces, and are more closely monitoring
the province's current canines," said Huan.
So far, the province's Veterinary Department has vaccinated 4 dogs
and cats in the province.
"It has been decades since the last rabies epidemic and the province
is trying to stop the spread of the disease as quickly as possible",
said Giang.
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[During January 2009, 19 people from Tan Phuc commune, Binh Thuan
district, Binh Thuan province were hospitalized in critical condition
due to delayed transportation from the province to Ho Chi Minh City
hospital. There were 57 cases and 2 deaths of rabies reported in Tan
Phuc commune from July to December 2008 (see prior PRO/MBDS posting
Rabies, human, canine - Viet Nam: (Binh Thuan), RFI 20090110.0101).
The above newswire mentions about the transportation of dogs from Phu
Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces to Lai Chau province caused the
importation of rabies outbreak in the province. More information from
reliable source on the recent condition of rabies infection in Phu
Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces would be highly appreciated.
ProMED-mail virology moderator Mod.CP had the following observation:
"Rabies in Viet Nam continues to be a problem partly on account of
lack of regulation of the trade of dog breeding and provision of
dog-meat for human consumption. Comprehensive vaccination of canines
would both protect human health and have long term economic benefits."
For maps of Viet Nam with provinces, see
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/vietnam_admin01.jpg>
and <http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html>. The interactive
HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with direct links to other outbreaks in
Viet Nam and surrounding countries reported on ProMED-mail and
PRO/MBDS can be accessed at <http://healthmap.org/r/008c>. - Mods.YMA/MPP]
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2..._ID:1040,78201
