Responsibilities of Dog and Cat Owners in the Investigation, Response, and Handling of Rabies Outbreaks as Regulated.

1. Responsibilities of Pet Owners in Investigation, Response, and Handling of Rabies Outbreaks

Based on Subsection a, Section 6, Chapter II of the National Program on Rabies Prevention and Control for the period 2022 - 2030 (issued together with Decision 2151/QD-TTg in 2021 by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam), the responsibilities of pet owners in the investigation, response, and handling of rabies outbreaks are as follows:

- Pet owners are responsible for reporting and providing accurate information to local authorities, veterinary staff, and nearby healthcare personnel when they detect animals that are ill, suspected of illness, or dead due to rabies;

- Isolate and monitor animals displaying signs of suspected rabies, and destroy animals with rabies as directed by veterinary authorities and local governments;

- It is strictly forbidden to buy, slaughter, or use products from animals suspected of having rabies;

- Do not dispose of animal carcasses into the environment; perform cleaning, disinfection, mandatory destruction of animals suspected of illness, infected, or dead due to rabies.

2. Responsibilities of Veterinary Agencies Leading and Cooperating with Health Agencies and Local Governments in Investigation, Response, and Handling of Rabies Outbreaks

Based on Subsection b, Section 6, Chapter II of the National Program on Rabies Prevention and Control for the period 2022 - 2030 (issued together with Decision 2151/QD-TTg in 2021 by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam), the responsibilities of veterinary agencies leading and cooperating with health agencies and local governments in the investigation, response, and handling of rabies outbreaks are as follows:

- The veterinary agency is responsible for guiding the immediate destruction of animals infected with rabies;

- Conduct investigation of outbreaks and collect samples from animals to test for rabies;

- Implement rabies vaccination to prevent and control the disease; guide the implementation of cleaning, disinfection, mandatory destruction of animals infected, suspected of illness, or dead due to rabies;

- Monitor and isolate animals suspected of rabies that bite humans according to regulations;

- Submit to competent authorities to consider and decide on declaring an epidemic or ending an epidemic as per regulations; advise the People's Committee and relevant functional departments on organizing rabies prevention and control as per regulations;

- Report outbreaks according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Prepare administrative violation records and submit them to competent authorities for decision-making and penalties for violations in rabies prevention and control;

- Notify health agencies for monitoring and rabies prevention.

Sincerely!