Human Rabies Surveillance in Vietnam

• Rabies is still a significant health issue in Vietnam, with most cases linked to dog and cat exposures in rural communities.
• Understanding the current situation helps travellers and health professionals prepare better and reduce risk.
• This article reviews recent surveillance data and practical advice for those heading to rabies-endemic areas.

Rabies Deaths in Vietnam Remain High: 58 Fatalities Reported in 2025

Fifty-eight deaths due to rabies have been reported in Vietnam in 2025 (first 9 months). This is in line with previous years (82 in 2023 and 89 in 2024).

Deaths due to rabies are often reported in local media but of particular interest in this report is the fact that 98% of cases involve exposure to an infected dog or cat. While rabies can be transmitted by many warm-blooded mammals, the vast majority involve just 2 main sources. Most cases occur in remote rural communities with poor access to health services.

According to the Ministry of Health, despite a national strategy to reduce deaths due to rabies, low vaccination rates in domesticated dogs, the prevalence of roaming stray dogs and the trade in dog and cat meat contribute to the problem.

Community led programs focus on the vaccination of pets and the early management of a possible exposure. Many deaths might be prevented by timely management of the wound and post exposure prophylaxis (rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine).

Vietnam’s Program for Rabies Control and Elimination

A very comprehensive report on Vietnam’s National Program for Rabies Control and Elimination is available through the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) website.

See Viet Nam | Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

The report looks at the period from 1995 to 2015. Poor dog vaccination rates (less 10%) are mentioned in several provinces.

Role of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)

The Global Alliance on Rabies Control (GARC) has been active globally since 2007. It empowers local people to be proactive in ways to reduce the burden of rabies in their communities. It is a “grass roots” organization and is active in many countries globally. Their vision is a world free from dog rabies.

According to GARC, “Rabies is 100% preventable”.

Rabies risk in travellers

Deaths due to rabies are occasionally reported amongst travellers. Healthy Travel recently reported on the death of a British traveller who was bitten by a stray dog on a beach in  Morocco.

See: Rabies risk when travelling - Don’t delay medical attention after exposure

Don’t delay medical attention after exposure

The disturbing feature of all cases in travellers is the failure to seek medical advice after a “warm blooded furry animal” exposure.

The need for urgent medical advice in the event of exposure should always be part of any pre-travel advice for travellers to rabies endemic countries.

The consideration of a course of a course of pre-travel rabies vaccinations should be based on individual circumstances.

Rabies occurs in more than 150 countries worldwide (see rabies) with dogs responsible for more than 99% of human cases.

Over half the deaths are in children under 15 years. Children are more likely to be savaged around the head and neck region. The proximity to the central nervous system can mean a shorter period before symptomatic disease. The disease is almost invariably fatal once symptoms occur.

It is estimated that more than 50,000 people die of rabies annually and many deaths go unreported. Three or four traveller deaths are reported each year.

Rabies deaths are preventable

Excellent rabies vaccines are available for long term protection and post-exposure prophylaxis is very effective, in the event of an exposure.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) an estimated 29 million people receive post exposure prophylaxis for rabies every year.

Reducing the risk of exposure

The risk of exposure can be dramatically reduced by just following some simple rules.

Do not:

• pat dogs - man's best friend can become a risk when travelling
• pick up pussy cats
• feed monkeys

The message is a simple one:

Do not engage with animals while overseas.

What to do if exposed

If you are unfortunate to have an exposure, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Prompt management of the wound is also vital. It should be gently cleaned with copious amounts of soapy water before applying a virucidal solution like povidone-iodine.

This also helps to reduce the risk of bacterial secondary infection.

Guidance from the Australian Immunisation Handbook

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides very useful advice on the management of a possible exposure to rabies or lyssavirus. There are 3 categories of exposure.