Rabies in Vietnam (Binh Thuan)

06 Jan 2023

Transmission of rabies continues in Vietnam. According to media (in Vietnamese) a woman died of rabies in Binh Thuan in late December 2022. This was the third death from rabies in Binh Thuan in 2022.

The patient had been bitten by a dog three months before falling ill and had received no medical treatment after being bitten.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health (in Vietnamese) reports an average of 76 people a year died of rabies in Vietnam from 2017 to 2021.

Rabies is a fatal viral infection which affects the brain and nerves. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals, usually following a bite or scratch.

Advice to Travellers

Before you travel, you should:

• check if rabies is a risk at your destination
• consider having rabies vaccines before travel; see a travel health professional (at least 4-6 weeks before you travel) if you think you might need a rabies vaccine course or booster dose
• be aware what to do if you think you have been exposed to rabies virus
• determine if there will be any reliable medical facilities at your destination

If you are travelling to a country where rabies is considered a risk, you should:

• avoid contact with animals, especially dogs, cats and monkeys: be aware that some animals can be infected with rabies without being aggressive or behaving strangely
• be aware that children are more likely to approach animals. Check them for wounds, and encourage them to tell you if they are bitten, licked or scratched by an animal
• read the animal bites page for advice on how to prevent being bitten by bats and animals
• seek immediate medical attention if you might have been exposed to rabies

For further information, see the fitfortravel Rabies page.