Situation of rabies mortality in human in Highland region of Vietnam, from 2016 to 2020

Abstract

The retrospective cross-sectional study of human deaths due to rabies in Highland in the 2016 - 2020 period revealed that the number of deaths has increased year by year over this period. This study aims to describe situation of rabies mortality in human in Highland region of Vietnam, from 2016 to 2020. The mortality rate due to rabies in males is higher than in females with the figure of 70.4% and 29,6% respectively. This figure is also higher in the minorities and children above 15 years old that accounted for the proportion of 63% and 57.4% respectively. The household dog is the main transmission source of rabies (75.9%) and 20.4% of rabies virus-infected animals did not show any sign of rabies attack when the bite occurred. 31.5% of rabies virus-infected animals showed the incubation period of rabies that lasts from 01 to 03 months. Only 13% of those who bitten by rabies-suspected animals had been handled the bite properly and no death occurred in those who received post-prophylaxis after exposure to rabies-suspected. Animal and human health sectors need to be proactive in implementing mass communication on rabies to encourage people who are exposed to rabies-suspected animals to properly take post-exposure prophylaxis and increase rabies vaccination coverage for animals.