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Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100421111138/Article/index_html
RABID SHOCKER: 284 people bitten by rabid dogs since January
2010/04/21
LAI CHAU, VIETNAM: Some 284 people have been bitten by rabid dogs in Vietnam's northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, since the beginning of this year, Vietnam news agency (VNA) reported, citing a Preventive Medicine Centre as saying.
In the report, the Director of the provincial Preventive Medicine Centre Tran Thi Lien said rabies outbreaks are most frequent in May and June, when the weather gets a lot hotter.
Most victims of rabid dog bites live in Sin Ho and Phong Tho districts and Lai Chau Township, where many rabid dogs were found during an outbreak of rabies last year, according to Lien.
Most patients said they were bitten by stray dogs, which are difficult to keep track of," he said.
"The real number of people bitten by suspected rabid dogs must be higher than the official figure as some people bitten by dogs do not seek treatment at local health centres, instead preferring to treat the bite with herbal remedies".
These cases go unreported, Lien said, adding that although the dog bites cases on the rise, so far no death has been reported for this year.
Lien said seven district healthcare centres had handed out free rabies vaccine worth VND136,000 each (US$7.1) to poor and disadvantaged people since last May.
Last July, it is reported that four people died of the rabies epidemic disease.
Meanwhile, Vietnam news agency also cited Deputy director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Pham Anh Hung, that there were many unmuzzled dogs on the streets and the rate of dogs vaccinated against rabies has remained low due to poor awareness among dogs owners, especially in rural and remote areas.
The department has conducted an anti-rabies campaign and supplied 12,000 doses of vaccines to 60 communes in the province since last month.
More than 160 suspected rabid dogs, mostly from northern Phu Tho Province, have been seized and destroyed and killed, Hung said.
Director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Dang Xuan Hao said measures have been implemented to curb rabies including rules requiring dogs owners to muzzle their pets, while dog breeders are now required to register their dogs for better management.
Authorities have also set up inspection teams to check dogs bred by household businesses.
However, Hao said: "These measures are still not effective enough due to shortage of personnel and the large administrative areas involved make it hard to uncover and punish violations." Hao said. -- BERNAMA
RABID SHOCKER: 284 people bitten by rabid dogs since January
2010/04/21
LAI CHAU, VIETNAM: Some 284 people have been bitten by rabid dogs in Vietnam's northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, since the beginning of this year, Vietnam news agency (VNA) reported, citing a Preventive Medicine Centre as saying.
In the report, the Director of the provincial Preventive Medicine Centre Tran Thi Lien said rabies outbreaks are most frequent in May and June, when the weather gets a lot hotter.
Most victims of rabid dog bites live in Sin Ho and Phong Tho districts and Lai Chau Township, where many rabid dogs were found during an outbreak of rabies last year, according to Lien.
Most patients said they were bitten by stray dogs, which are difficult to keep track of," he said.
"The real number of people bitten by suspected rabid dogs must be higher than the official figure as some people bitten by dogs do not seek treatment at local health centres, instead preferring to treat the bite with herbal remedies".
These cases go unreported, Lien said, adding that although the dog bites cases on the rise, so far no death has been reported for this year.
Lien said seven district healthcare centres had handed out free rabies vaccine worth VND136,000 each (US$7.1) to poor and disadvantaged people since last May.
Last July, it is reported that four people died of the rabies epidemic disease.
Meanwhile, Vietnam news agency also cited Deputy director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Pham Anh Hung, that there were many unmuzzled dogs on the streets and the rate of dogs vaccinated against rabies has remained low due to poor awareness among dogs owners, especially in rural and remote areas.
The department has conducted an anti-rabies campaign and supplied 12,000 doses of vaccines to 60 communes in the province since last month.
More than 160 suspected rabid dogs, mostly from northern Phu Tho Province, have been seized and destroyed and killed, Hung said.
Director of the provincial Department of Animal Health Dang Xuan Hao said measures have been implemented to curb rabies including rules requiring dogs owners to muzzle their pets, while dog breeders are now required to register their dogs for better management.
Authorities have also set up inspection teams to check dogs bred by household businesses.
However, Hao said: "These measures are still not effective enough due to shortage of personnel and the large administrative areas involved make it hard to uncover and punish violations." Hao said. -- BERNAMA