A 50 year old dog butcher in Hanoi has died of rabies from slaughtering dogs. He’d been working in the family business as a dog butcher for over two months. The family clearly do not understand how lethal rabies is. They said the un-vaccinated dogs were healthy and didn’t need health checks. None of the butchers were vaccinated against rabies.

Rabies can sit undetected in dogs for up to seven months. Rabies can sit undetected in humans for up to seven years! You do not have to be bitten to receive rabies. Rabies virus enters tear ducts, nasal passages and the tiniest pin prick on your skin.

The butcher began showing flu like symptoms days earlier. He had a headache, fever and fatigue. He quickly developed a fear of water, wind and light. He had severe shortness of breath. Two days later his family transferred him to a larger hospital. He tested positive for flu. During his diagnosis the man became highly agitated, chattering uncontrollably and arguing about everything.

He was transferred to another hospital where he arrived in a state of psychosis, extreme excitement, and terrified of water or cold air. Doctors suspected rabies.

He began vomiting non stop, with escalating excitement, heart arrhythmia, severe spasms when attempting to drink water or exhale air.

Doctors took saliva samples, cerebrospinal fluid and skin biopsies. Samples were sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. On the evening of that same day the man died. His body was given to his family, who took him home for burial.

Test results came back positive for rabies.

Hanoi CDC recorded two cases of rabies deaths so far this year in 2022. Last year only one rabies death was reported in Hanoi. The Health Department in Hanoi strongly recommend people fully vaccinate their pets; and re-do vaccinations each year.

Fight Dog Meat will continue to bring you reports from dog and cat meat countries and the wonderful work their rescuers are doing despite no animal protection laws. We’re helping local volunteers have a louder voice on a world platform. Ultimately it’s the voice of the country’s own people whom their government will eventually be forced to listen to, for positive change for animals.

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown
Founder,
Fight Dog Meat.

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