Vietnamese man dies of rabies 1.5 months after untreated stray dog bite

The victim, identified as V.V.V., was working at a construction site in Bao Hieu Commune, Yen Thuy District on February 15 when he was bitten on the left hand by a stray dog weighing around six kilograms.

The animal fled the scene and has not been found since.

Despite the bite drawing blood, the victim self-treated the wound and did not seek medical treatment or post-exposure rabies vaccination.

By March 27, V. began exhibiting symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, mild shortness of breath, and excessive salivation.

Despite being treated at several local health facilities, his condition deteriorated rapidly.

He was eventually transferred to the Center for Tropical Diseases of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, where two PCR tests confirmed rabies infection.

Doctors explained the dire prognosis to the family, who chose to bring him home for care.

He passed away on April 3.

Second suspicious dog incident

Local authorities also reported another alarming case on March 18 involving a different stray dog in the same commune.

This 10kg animal exhibited unusual behavior and ran to three households, about 500 meters from where V. worked, where it attacked three smaller dogs and bit a 15-year-old boy before fleeing.

Two of the bitten dogs died the next day, and the third went missing.

The teenager, identified as B.K.D., then received rabies vaccination and remains in stable condition.

The incidents prompted an urgent response from the provincial Department of Health, which put together a joint inspection team to assess and monitor potential rabies outbreaks in Bao Hieu.

Though no confirmed animal rabies cases were previously recorded in the commune, these events have triggered new preventive measures.

Officials emphasized the importance of timely rabies vaccinations and urged residents to immediately seek medical attention following any animal bites or scratches.

20 rabies-related deaths in Q1/2025

In the first three months of 2025, Vietnam recorded 20 human deaths from rabies across 13 provinces, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Meanwhile, over 80 animals with suspected rabies infection were culled in 22 provinces.

Last Saturday, five people in Vung Tau City of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam had to seek medical treatment after being bitten by a free-ranging dog with suspected rabies.

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, including children, and attacked two other dogs before being killed by locals to prevent further harm.

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