Recently, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases received a case of a 30-year-old man in Tuyen Quang who contracted rabies after 6 months of being bitten by a dog, but was not vaccinated. When admitted to the hospital, the patient was highly stimulated, afraid of water, wind, respiratory failure and quickly had to use a ventilator. The results of the bone marrow dichence test showed that he was positive for the rabies virus.
A similar incident occurred in Nghe An, when an 11-year-old girl was hospitalized with signs of fear of water, fear of the wind, panic and high fever. The worrying thing is that the family did not know that the child had been bitten by a dog, only knew that the pet dog in the house had died unexpectedly a few days before the child started to get sick. Although the doctor tried to resuscitate him, the patient's condition became increasingly serious and the test results confirmed that the child had rabies. The family then asked to take the child home to take care of him, in helplessness and pain.
The heartbreaking stories repeated over the years show an alarming reality: Rabies is still quietly taking the lives of many people, even though it is completely achievable and can be prevented. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 59,000 people die from rabies each year globally, of which Asia accounts for 60%. In Vietnam, an average of 75 deaths and hundreds of thousands of people have to be vaccinated against exposure each year.
Rabies virus exists in the saliva of sick animals, transmitted to humans through bites, scratches or contact with damaged mucous membranes. When entering the body, the virus travels neurologically to the brain, causing acute encephalitis with typical symptoms such as hydration, convulsions, behavioral disorders and paralysis. More worryingly, after a rash, the mortality rate is almost 100% and there is currently no specific treatment for the disease.
What makes rabies dangerous is not only the toxicity of the virus, but also the subjectivity of humans. Many people were bitten by dogs, but did not get vaccinated immediately, or monitored their pets themselves, waiting to see if they were sick or not. Some people still go to traditional healers, apply leaves or folk tips, giving the virus more time to invade the nervous system. The lack of vaccination for dogs and cats, especially in rural areas, also contributes to the continued widespread rabies.
Experts say that rabies, meanwhile, can be completely prevented if treated properly from the beginning. When bitten by a dog, cat or any animal, the most important thing is to wash the wound carefully under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes, then disinfect with alcohol or antibacterial solution. People need to go to medical facilities as soon as possible to be consulted and vaccinated, combining anti-rabies serum with severe wounds. Getting the correct and sufficient dose is a decisive factor in preventing the virus.
At the same time, periodic vaccination for dogs and cats is the most important measure to prevent rabies right from the source of infection. When going out, dogs and cats need to be muzzled and tightly managed, avoiding free speech. Local authorities also need to strengthen communication, organize centralized vaccination campaigns and strictly punish the act of releasing free-range animals without muzzles.
Proactive prevention is not only a responsibility to yourself but also to your family and the community.
