Vietnam’s Dak Lak issues urgent alert after 6 attacked by suspected rabid dog

According to local health officials, the incidents occurred in mid-March when a dog belonging to resident D.H.Q. suddenly became aggressive.

The animal first attacked his two daughters last Sunday, then bit him the following day.

It continued to injure three neighbors on Tuesday.

In total, six people suffered bites, mostly on their arms and legs.

The family reported that another dog showing rabies-like symptoms died in early February and was buried in the family’s garden.

The second dog, after attacking multiple victims, also bit three other dogs in the neighborhood before being killed and buried by the family.

Veterinary officers collected samples for testing, with results still pending.

The provincial Center for Disease Control coordinated with local health agencies to guide victims to receive rabies vaccinations at the Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

By Friday afternoon, all six patients had been vaccinated, with five given rabies immunoglobulin as prescribed.

Officials also began monitoring related dogs in the area.

Public campaigns were launched to warn residents against letting pets roam freely and to encourage vaccination of dogs and cats.

This marks the first suspected rabies cases in Thanh Cong hamlet this year, but experts warned that many animals remain unvaccinated, raising the risk of further outbreaks.

The provincial health department ordered a rapid survey of local dog and cat populations, strict management of pets, and immediate vaccination for exposed individuals.

The health department stressed that rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Residents are urged to seek medical care immediately after being bitten by dogs or cats and not to rely on traditional remedies.