Authorities in Dong Thap Province, located in southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, strengthen public warnings about rabies risks, especially during animal slaughter and processing. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre
Nguyen Ngoc Son, a resident of My Tinh An Commune, worked as a dog meat trader and lived alone.
On April 15, he was admitted to Tien Giang General Hospital with dizziness and weakness on one side of his body.
Initially diagnosed with neurological issues and hypertension, his condition worsened with hydrophobia and difficulty swallowing, which are common symptoms of rabies.
By April 17, he was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, where tests confirmed rabies infection.
His family brought him home in critical condition, and he died on April 20.
Investigators said that Son had no history of dog bites.
Health officials suspect he contracted the virus through contact with blood or secretions from infected dog meat, possibly entering through skin abrasions.
Following the case, local health authorities launched an epidemiological investigation, identified close contacts for vaccination, and coordinated with veterinary authorities to trace the source of infection from related slaughterhouses.
Local authorities are intensifying public warnings about rabies risks, particularly for those handling, slaughtering, or processing animals.
They stressed that rabies remains fatal once symptoms appear, and prevention through vaccination and safe practices is essential.
