The Son La provincial People’s Committee collaborated with the country’sministries for health and rural development on September 29 to hold ameeting for World Rabies Day 2013.

The event, in Son La city,was also joined by representatives of the World Health Organisation, theFood and Agriculture Association of the United Nations and over 1,000local people.

The northern mountainous province of Son La hasrecorded 11 cases of rabies being spread to humans by dogs so far thisyear, 12 fewer than last year.

In the first eight months of2013, rabies was recorded in 20 cities and provinces across the country,especially in mountainous and midland areas where there have beenthousands of cases and many people have received vaccinations.

Meanwhile, rabies spread by dogs has claimed the lives of 74 peoplethis year who were not vaccinated or did not receive treatment quicklyenough after being bitten by a rabid dog.

According toProfessor Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the National Institute ofHygiene and Epidemiology and head of the management board of the rabiesprevention project launched by the Health Ministry, the transmission ofrabies from animals to humans can be prevented.

However,prevention measures against the disease have been neglected in Vietnam,he said, warning of the huge risk of disease transmission without goodmanagement of dogs.

Addressing the function, Vice Chairman ofSon La Province’s People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Toa presented measuresto eliminate the disease by 2020.

They included improved dogmanagement and more education on how to prevent rabies being spread bydogs. Advice included keeping dogs on a lead or muzzled when on thestreet and ensuring the animals are vaccinated.

Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year.

World Rabies Day was officially launched in 2007, aiming to raiseawareness about the public health impact of human and animal rabies.-VNA