On March 3, functional units and local authorities of Dam Ha district (Quang Ninh province) simultaneously launched a census of the number of dogs and cats raised in the area and organized a vaccination campaign for 100% of dogs and cats in the area after a rabies outbreak occurred in Duc Yen commune, Dam Ha district with many infected people.

At the same time, the People's Committee of Dam Ha district also assigned localities to proactively monitor closely the areas, not allowing dogs and cats to roam freely, without muzzles in public areas, and to strictly punish them according to regulations. Villages and hamlets should increase propaganda for households to monitor the behavior of domestic dogs and cats.

Through the monitoring of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Quang Ninh and the Department of Animal Health of Quang Ninh province, on February 28, a dog suddenly ran into Duc Yen Primary and Secondary School (in Duc Yen commune) and bit 13 students and 1 teacher. Immediately after being bitten by the dog, all 13 students and 1 teacher of Duc Yen school were vaccinated against rabies and transferred to the CDC of Quang Ninh for anti-rabies serum injection. The dog that "attacked" the above people was captured, processed and sent for testing with the sample result being positive for rabies virus.

Faced with this risk, the health agency coordinated with the veterinary agency and local authorities to urgently review cases that may have been exposed to the rabid dog and is continuing to expand the scope of the review to all other recent cases of dog bites to promptly contain and handle the outbreak. In particular, strengthening the monitoring of people's health, focusing on preventing and suppressing rabies in Duc Yen commune and preventing epidemics in areas adjacent to Duc Yen commune.

Quang Ninh CDC also requested Dam Ha District Medical Center to coordinate with local authorities and functional forces to review and count all cases at risk of exposure, and to mobilize people to get vaccinated against rabies as soon as possible. The District Medical Center needs to prepare enough vaccines to vaccinate people.

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