Towards rabies elimination in Viet Nam: One Health partners launch national digital communication initiatives ahead of World Rabies Day 2026

One Health partners in Viet Nam are launching a digital communication campaign to strengthen public awareness of rabies prevention, responsible dog and cat ownership and vaccination, timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and multisectoral action towards Viet Nam’s goal of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. 

The initiative is jointly organized by Vietnam One Health Partnership partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) in Viet Nam, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Humane World for Animals (HWA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Viet Nam, the Vietnam One Health Partnership (OHP) and the Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD), in collaboration with Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) and Department of Animal Health and Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment). The campaign will run from June to September and culminate around World Rabies Day on 28 September 2026. 

Three communications events are planned as follows: 

1. Communication event 1 (26th June 2026): “Enjoy Summer Safely, Stay Away from Rabies – Safe Interaction Rules for Children Around Dogs and Cats”. 
2. Communication event 2 (August 2026): “Understanding Rabies Vaccination for Dogs, Cats and Humans” 
3. Communication event 3 (September 2026): “Towards Rabies Elimination in Viet Nam” 

The communications initiatives will feature expert presentations, interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions and practical communication materials aimed at increasing public engagement and awareness. 

Rabies is a deadly zoonotic disease transmitted mainly through bites or scratches from infected dogs and cats. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable through dog and cat vaccination, proper wound care and timely PEP. 

In recent years, Viet Nam still records approximately 70–100 human rabies deaths each year. In 2025, 77 deaths were reported across 20 provinces and cities, and more than one million people received PEP. In the first three months of 2026, 13 human rabies deaths were recorded, mainly in southern provinces.

Children remain one of the most vulnerable groups due to their frequent interactions with dogs, particularly during summer holidays. At the same time, dog and cat vaccination coverage remains insufficient in many localities and has yet to reach the levels required (70 per cent) to establish effective herd immunity.

The Government of Viet Nam has demonstrated strong commitment to the goal “Zero by 30” through the National Rabies Prevention and Control Programme for 2022–2030, which identifies the period from 2026 to 2030 as a critical acceleration phase to reduce human rabies deaths, increase vaccination coverage among dogs and cats, and move towards nationwide rabies elimination. 

Through the One Health approach, the campaign brings together health, veterinary, education, communication and community actors to promote clear, practical actions to protect people and animals from rabies.

Watch the Communication event 1

Read more media articles about the events:

https://van.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/one-health-partners-in-viet-nam-launch-campaign-to-combat-rabies-d818422.html (In English) 

https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/quoc-te-khoi-dong-chien-dich-truyen-thong-phong-chong-benh-dai-tai-viet-nam-d818395.html (In Vietnamese) 

https://baochinhphu.vn/khoi-dong-chien-dich-truyen-thong-so-huong-toi-muc-tieu-loai-tru-benh-dai-tai-viet-nam-102260626162043793.htm (In Vietnamese)