Rabies is a dangerous disease that can be prevented, yet controlling and preventing it is still facing several challenges. The difficulties arise from various sources: the awareness of pet owners, the lack of coordinated management by local authorities, and the complacency of those attacked by dogs and cats.

As of May 16, the province has recorded 8 cases of rabid dogs biting people in Mường Nhé district (4 cases); Điện Biên Phủ city (2); Tuần Giáo (1); and Mường Lay town (1). Notably, from late April to early May, two people, both children, died from rabies after being attacked by rabid dogs in Mường Nhé and Tuần Giáo.

On April 30, the Mường Nhé district’s Health Center reported a rabies death in Huổi Lúm village, Nậm Vì commune. The victim was C.A.D, born in 2011. According to the family, on March 26, D. was bitten on the left palm by a dog, causing two minor scratches. However, after the bite, the wound was not treated properly, and the child was not vaccinated for rabies. It wasn’t until March 28 that the family took D. to the Mường Nhé Health Center, where the wound was classified as a level II injury, and vaccination was recommended. D. received four doses of the rabies vaccine on March 28, 31, April 4, and 11. However, by April 17, symptoms such as high fever, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, sore throat, vomiting after meals, loss of appetite, and fatigue appeared. On the afternoon of April 24, D. was taken to the Health Center in a state of full-body convulsions, unresponsive to calls. Despite efforts to save the child, D. passed away. The test results for the disease sample confirmed rabies virus.

Similarly, on May 5, the Tuần Giáo district’s Health Center recorded another rabies death (a male, 8 years old) in Nát village, Quài Cang commune. The victim also did not receive immediate rabies vaccination after being bitten by a dog.

According to statistics from the Điện Biên provincial Center for Disease Control, from 2021 to May 2025, the province has recorded 13 deaths from rabies transmitted by dogs and cats. Among these, Mường Nhé had 4 deaths; Tuần Giáo 3; Điện Biên and Điện Biên Đông each had 2; Mường Chà and Tủa Chùa each had 1. Notably, all the victims did not receive immediate rabies vaccination after being bitten by dogs.

These tragic cases reflect the complacency of people, particularly when bitten by household dogs. Meanwhile, rabies has an almost absolute fatality rate if not treated promptly.

The disease typically incubates for 1-3 months but can last several years depending on the depth and location of the bite. The deeper and closer the wound is to the central nervous system, the faster the disease will manifest. Therefore, rabies vaccination should be administered as soon as possible - this is the only measure to prevent death from rabies.

To prevent rabies transmission from dogs and cats, the provincial Center for Disease Control builds action plans annually, focusing on communication work. Local health stations collaborate with schools to educate students about the risks of rabies and how to handle dog and cat bites. Village health teams also intensify outreach in remote areas to raise awareness and encourage people not to be complacent about rabies, especially after dog and cat bites. The district health centers regularly announce vaccination locations and ensure an adequate supply of vaccines for the people.

Dr. Phạm Đức Tài, Head of the Infectious Disease Prevention Department under the provincial Center for Disease Control, recommends: “People who are bitten by dogs or cats should immediately wash the wound with soap under running water for at least 15 minutes, then go to the nearest health facility for consultation and timely vaccination.”

The negligence in managing and vaccinating dogs and cats is the main reason that rabies has become complicated and is a significant barrier to prevention efforts. Nowadays, keeping dogs for home protection or as pets has become increasingly common in Điện Biên, but many households still do not comply with the regulations for regular vaccinations, tethering, caging, or using muzzles when taking dogs outside.

Lò Văn Hà, Director of the Mường Nhé district’s Agricultural Service Center, said: “Every year, the center actively promotes community awareness about the dangers of rabies. We also guide people to implement preventive measures such as annual rabies vaccination, tethering, caging dogs, and muzzling them when taken outside. However, many households still do not follow these rules, making it difficult to prevent rabies in dogs and cats and stop the transmission to humans.”

As of May 16, the province has vaccinated 44,127 doses of rabies vaccine, covering 44.9% of the dog and cat population. Specifically: Tủa Chùa district reached 83.9% of the total population; Mường Chà 78.7%; Mường Ảng 78.3%; Tuần Giáo 72.4%; Điện Biên Đông 51.7%; Mường Lay town 45.5%; Điện Biên Phủ city 40.5%; Điện Biên 21.9%; and Nậm Pồ 12%.

Despite being the first locality to record rabid dogs attacking people, with the first fatal case of rabies and the highest number of rabid dogs in the province in the first 5 months of 2025, Mường Nhé is still the only district that has not started rabies vaccination for dogs and cats.

The Mường Nhé district People’s Committee issued a plan for rabies prevention in late December 2024, with a target of vaccinating 4,650 doses of vaccine, totaling nearly VND 488 million. However, it wasn’t until after the first fatal case on May 7 that the district’s departments were instructed to urgently begin vaccination. As of now, Mường Nhé is still in the process of bidding and selecting a vaccine supplier. Lò Văn Tâm, Head of the Mường Nhé district’s Agriculture and Environment Sub-department, said: “The district plans to start vaccination at the end of May or early June and aims to complete it by June.” This delay and lack of determination in local government leadership have negatively affected the effectiveness of rabies prevention in the area.

To effectively control the rabies transmission from dogs and cats to humans, it is not enough to rely solely on the efforts of health and veterinary sectors. There needs to be coordinated action from the government, citizens, and society as a whole. Only when society acts decisively, proactively, and responsibly will rabies transmission be effectively stopped in the community.