After more than a month of being bitten by a dog, a 7-year-old boy in Dien Ban died, test results showed positive for rabies virus.
Information was announced by Dien Ban Town Medical Center on October 31. According to the agency’s investigation, while going to school on the afternoon of September 13, the boy was bitten on the forearm by a running dog. The animal’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
In addition to the child, the animal also bit a 27-year-old man. This person got vaccinated.
The teacher washed the boy’s wound with soap and salt water and advised the family to get the child vaccinated. However, the family did not take the baby for vaccination but took him to a traditional healer in Le Trach market, Da Nang city for treatment.
On October 10, the child had a fever and vomiting and was taken to Quang Nam Regional General Hospital. Here, the child bit one side of his tongue, then showed signs of fear of light and increased fever, and was transferred to Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. The rabies virus test results on October 26 showed that the child was positive, the family asked to be taken home and died at home.
From the beginning of the year until now, Quang Nam has had 12 rabies outbreaks in 5 districts and towns including: Hoi An, Dien Ban, Dong Giang, Hiep Duc, Que Son. Among them, 3 outbreaks were discovered from ownerless dogs carrying rabies virus into the area.
The Department of Health advises that rabies is a dangerous infectious disease. Once infected, there is no cure and the death rate is 100%. When bitten, scratched, or licked by a dog or cat on an open wound, all bites and scratches should be thoroughly cleaned for 15 minutes as soon as possible under running water with soap. Then disinfect with 45°-70° alcohol or iodine alcohol to reduce the amount of rabies virus at the bite site. Go to the nearest medical facility for advice and rabies vaccination. Absolutely do not treat with traditional medicine and folk remedies.