49 Vietnamese Die of Rabies in Nine Months: Ministry

About 49 Vietnamese people died of rabies in 20 cities and provinces across the country, according to the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health. People bitten by dogs or cats are recommended to seek medical attention immediately. Doctors will decide if vaccination is needed. The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. The incubation period on humans is typically one to three months. Untreated rabies causes acute encephalitis and is almost always fatal. The country has been making efforts to reduce dog bite incidents and fatalities in recent years. By increasing the number of vaccinated dogs, it aims to eliminate rabies by 2020. According to the General Statistics Office, there are around 10 million dogs in the country. Rabies kills about 55,000 people a year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, which said children under 15 are the most common victims. (Tien Phong Oct 3 p2, vnexpress.net Oct 1)