Suspected rabid stray dog attacks 5 people, including kids, in southern Vietnam

Authorities confirmed that the dog attacks occurred between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm last Saturday in two villages of Long Son Commune.

The dog, of unknown ownership, was seen roaming freely and displaying unusual behavior, including excessive drooling, an open mouth, and high aggression.

It bit five residents and attacked two other dogs before being killed by locals to prevent further harm.

The victims were promptly taken to a local medical center for wound treatment and rabies prevention measures.

Three of them received both rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum, while the remaining two have begun the vaccine course and are under close monitoring with further treatment advised.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

The incident underscores the critical need for enhanced rabies prevention and control measures, including rabies vaccination for pets, strict control of stray animals especially in areas where children may be at risk, and public awareness campaigns on the importance of immediate post-bite care.

According to the Ministry of Health, rabies remained among the leading causes of human deaths over the past years, just after such infectious diseases as measles and COVID-19.

Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 70 human deaths due to rabies were reported each year.

The ministry also revealed at a July 2024 conference that some 500,000 people are bitten by dogs annually in Vietnam, with preventive treatment costs totaling approximately VND2 trillion (US$77 million).

Throughout last year, Vietnam had recorded more than 80 rabies-related fatalities across 33 provinces and cities, according to the health ministry’s General Department of Preventive Medicine.

Most recently, the administration of southern Dong Nai Province issued an urgent directive in late March, calling for intensified disease prevention measures and a province-wide vaccination campaign for domestic animals.

The move came after Dong Nai reported six cases of rabies, including two human deaths in Long Thanh District, during the first three months of 2025.

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