According to records of the health sector, from the beginning of 2026 to now, rabies has shown signs of increasing in many localities. Statistics show that as of April 20, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 3 deaths from rabies. This number is worrying when in less than 4 months, the number of deaths accounted for more than 50% of the total number of cases for the whole year 2025 (5 cases).
Prolonged hot weather is considered one of the factors increasing the risk of infection. High temperatures make dogs and cats easily agitated, increasing the behavior of biting and scratching people. This is also the time when travel and tourism demand increases, leading to an increased risk of disease exposure.
Faced with this situation, people's disease prevention awareness has had positive changes. In Hanoi, many people actively get rabies vaccination, not only after being exposed but also when there is a risk of contact with animals.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Dr. Nguyen Minh Trang (VNVC Vaccination Center) emphasized: "Measles vaccine and anti-rabbit serum are the only preventive measures against rabies. When the disease has developed, the mortality rate is almost 100%, so vaccination is extremely important.
According to doctors, as soon as people are bitten or scratched by dogs or cats, they need to go to a medical facility as soon as possible to be examined and advised on vaccination appropriate to the extent of the injury, especially for people who are frequently exposed to animals.
In addition, many people are still hesitant about post-vaccination reactions, so they have not been vaccinated. However, Dr. Nguyen Minh Trang said that post-vaccination reactions are mainly local reactions such as pain and mild swelling. "Some unwanted reactions may occur but are under control. Vaccinators need to monitor for at least 30 minutes at a medical facility and continue monitoring for 24-48 hours afterwards," the doctor said.
According to recommendations, rabies vaccine begins to take effect after about 10-14 days. People need to fully follow the vaccination schedule to ensure disease prevention effectiveness.
Faced with the trend of increasing cases in the hot season, the health sector recommends that people not be subjective, need to vaccinate pets, do not let dogs and cats roam freely and proactively vaccinate when there is a risk. This is still the most effective "shield" to prevent dangerous diseases with an almost absolute mortality rate.
