(VN) Rabies, human, canine - Viet Nam: (LI)

[Guest guest]

RABIES, HUMAN, CANINE - VIET NAM (LAI CHAU)

*******************************************

A ProMED-mail post

<http://www.promedmail.org>

ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases

<http://www.isid.org>

 

Wed 1 Jul 2009

Source: VNS, Viet Nam News agency [edited]

<http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=04SOC010709>

 

 

Northern Lai Chau Province announced a rabies epidemic after 4 people died

of the disease and at least 500 people had been bitten by rabid dogs in the

last 2 months. " The 500 cases only account for the number of patients who

got a rabies [vaccination] 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 VND one million (USD 56)

for a course of 5 injections -- and 40 per cent of people in the province

have an average monthly income of VND 200 000 (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 in Lai Chau Town, who recovered

from rabies after several days of treatment in the province's hospital

[presumably as a result of prophylactic immunization before any symptoms of

infection developed. - Mod.CP]. " 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:

HealthMap Alerts via

ProMED-mail <promed

 

[A map of the provinces of Viet Nam can be accessed at:

<http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html>. The province of Lai Chau

lies in the far western part of the northern region.

 

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 (see references below). Comprehensive vaccination of canines

would both protect human health and have long term economic benefits. - Mod.CP]

 

[see also:

Rabies, via dog/cat butchering - Viet Nam: probable 20090318.1092

Rabies, human, canine - Viet Nam: (Binh Thuan), RFI 20090111.0115

2007

---

Rabies, human - Viet Nam: RFI 20070910.2992]

 

..................cp/msp/sh

 

 

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

************************************************************

Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at

<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>

************************************************************

Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.

Send all items for posting to: promed

(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your

full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send

commands to /, get archives, help,

etc. to: majordomo. For assistance from a

human being send mail to: owner-promed.

############################################################

############################################################

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]