Soc Son District in Hanoi has culled stray dogs whose owners did not claim them within 48 hours after the dogs were caught, over the past week as a way to respond to a rabies outbreak.

The administration in Hanoi has tasked the authorities in Soc Son District with drastically deploying measures to fight rabies.

Hien Ninh Commune in Soc Son is currently a rabies hotspot.

The commune designated a farmland area for euthanizing stray dogs and has already put down seven such canines after their owners failed to claim them and pay the associated fine.

In contrast, the owner of another dog voluntarily paid a fine of VND1 million (US$40) to reclaim his pet.

Hoang Thi Ha, head of the economics division in Soc Son, stated that the district has the largest dog population in the capital city, with most households raising canines.

Hien Ninh Commune alone is home to 3,000 households and approximately 4,000 dogs.

Following several incidents of dog bites, Soc Son District has resumed operations of teams to capture stray dogs.

The district has also administered anti-rabies vaccinations to 90 percent of the local dog population.

Local residents who were bitten by rabid dogs in late July have been vaccinated against rabies and are under close monitoring.

Rabies is expected to spread complexly in outlying districts, the Hanoi Department of Health said, adding that the municipal veterinary sector is requiring districts to catch and euthanize stray dogs as a result.

By the end of July, Soc Son District had recorded three rabies clusters, with 10 people exposed to the virus.

These individuals have received wound treatment, rabies vaccinations, and anti-rabies serum.

Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has reported 27 rabies cases, all in Soc Son.

Ngo Dinh Loat, deputy head of the Hanoi Sub-department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Veterinary, warned that Soc Son would face a risk of rabies spreading if the disease in animals is not effectively controlled.

He noted that the district has around 9,000 dogs, with stray dogs remaining a persistent issue.

Loat added that Hanoi is committed to becoming a rabies-free zone by 2025. The plan includes culling stray dogs and vaccinating the remaining population.

Vietnam has reported 60 rabies-related deaths since the beginning of 2024, according to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

Localities experiencing significant rabies outbreaks include Binh Thuan Province in the south-central region, Dak Lak and Gia Lai Provinces in the Central Highlands, Nghe An Province in the north-central region, as well as Ben Tre, Tay Ninh, and Long An Provinces in southern Vietnam, and Hoa Binh Province in the north.

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