On August 17, the Department of Health of Lam Dong province issued a document requesting to strengthen rabies prevention and control, and at the same time deploy activities to respond to World Rabies Day 2026.
According to the Lam Dong Department of Health, the rabies situation and the risk of exposure in the area still contain many complex developments.
Since the beginning of the year, the Dong Lam Dong area has recorded 1 death due to rabies.
In particular, on July 22, in Ham Thuan Bac commune, a dog with suspected rabies symptoms bit 5 people in Phu Hoa and Ham Phu villages.
The incident shows that the risk of rabies transmission from animals to humans is still present, requiring localities to proactively monitor and handle it right from the grassroots level.
The Department of Health requests the Provincial Center for Disease Control to strengthen supervision and proactively detect unusual events related to rabies.
Signs to pay special attention to include dogs and cats showing signs of rabies; dogs biting many people; many dogs and cats being sick or dying for unknown reasons; people bitten, scratched or at risk of exposure by dogs and cats suspected of rabies.
The health sector is required to closely coordinate with veterinary agencies and local authorities in investigating and verifying cases of animals suspected of having rabies.
Communication work is also being promoted in the community, schools and high-risk areas.
The Department of Health recommends that when bitten or scratched by dogs or cats, people should immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water, then go to a medical facility for advice, treatment and timely rabies vaccination.
People do not self-treat or use methods that have not been scientifically proven.
Strictly manage dogs and cats, prevent the risk of rabies from the grassroots level
People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones in the province are required to direct specialized departments, veterinary agencies, and health stations to strengthen rabies surveillance in humans and animals.
Localities must review and strictly manage the number of households raising dogs and cats and the total herd; mobilize people not to let dogs roam freely; and at the same time implement rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, striving to achieve the planned rate.
When animals suspected of having rabies are detected, localities need to proactively zone and handle them according to regulations and coordinate with the health sector to investigate and manage those at risk of exposure.
Along with professional measures, propaganda is identified as one of the important solutions to raise people's awareness.
Propaganda content needs to focus on how to prevent diseases, recognize risks and handle them correctly when bitten or scratched by dogs and cats, especially in schools, residential areas and high-risk areas.
The Lam Dong Department of Health also requested localities to organize appropriate activities to respond to World Rabies Day (September 28, 2026), focusing on raising community awareness about the danger of rabies and disease prevention measures.
Localities are encouraged to proactively mobilize resources, prioritize deploying activities in areas at high risk or where suspected rabies cases have been recorded, thereby limiting the risk of rabies occurrence and transmission in the community.
