Ho Chi Minh City culls nearly 7,400 animals amid disease outbreaks, rabies vaccination at only 42%

The figures were released at a conference on animal disease prevention and control organized by the department on Thursday.

The city recorded 16 animal disease outbreaks at 18 livestock farms and households in 13 communes and wards during the period, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.

African swine fever accounted for 12 outbreaks at 14 livestock farms and households in nine communes and wards.

The city also recorded three rabies outbreaks at three livestock farms and households in three communes and wards, as well as one outbreak of lumpy skin disease at a livestock household.

As of July 30, 132,028 dogs and cats, or 42.1 percent of the city's 313,591 dogs and cats, had been vaccinated against rabies, according to the sub-department.

Overall, the outbreaks led to the culling of nearly 7,400 animals weighing over 329 metric tons.

Under Government Decree 204/2026/ND-CP, which took effect on August 1, individuals can be fined VND1-2 million (US$38-76) for failing to vaccinate dogs against rabies or for taking dogs into public places without muzzles, leashes or handlers.

The sub-department said it has coordinated with commune and ward authorities and special administrative areas to carry out vaccination campaigns for livestock, poultry, dogs and cats across the city.

The agency and its affiliated units have also detected 47 violations so far this year, including unauthorized animal slaughter, failure to retain information for food traceability and evasion of animal quarantine at inspection stations along transport routes.

They imposed administrative fines totaling more than VND333 million ($12,780).

At the conference, Ho Truc Thanh, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, called for stronger measures to prevent rabies among dogs and cats, particularly by improving the management of free-roaming animals and increasing vaccination.

He asked veterinary authorities and local administrations to step up public awareness campaigns and ensure compliance with regulations on animal disease prevention, food safety and veterinary hygiene.

He also urged relevant agencies to strengthen coordination and intensify inspections toward the end of the year, when the transportation, trading and consumption of animal products typically increase, to improve disease surveillance and detect violations at their source.

Meanwhile, the city's Department of Health advised the municipal administration on a plan to strengthen the inspection and monitoring of animal diseases.

Earlier this month, the city's administration instructed municipal departments, agencies and local authorities to implement coordinated measures to prevent animal diseases during the remaining months of 2026, with a focus on managing dog and cat populations, handling free-roaming dogs and increasing rabies vaccination.