Addressing the 2^nd Rabies in Asia Conference (RIACON), Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan called on countries to show a strong commitment to eradiating rabies - one of the most common human-infected diseases.

As rabies is transmitted by the bite of most warm-blooded animals, especially dogs and cats, an effective combination of control and preventative measures will help the countries stamp out this acute, infectious and often fatal viral disease, said Mr Huan.

Globally, rabies claims about 50,000 lives every year while the figure in Vietnam ranges from between 70-90. The number of people bitten by these animals in Vietnam has fallen significantly from 450,000 in the early 2000s to less than 300,000 last year.

Dr Dinh Kim Xuyen, vice president of the National Rabies Prevention Programme, reported that rabies is mostly transmitted by the bite of infected dogs in Vietnam, making up 97 percent of cases. So far this year, the disease caused by infected dogs has killed 49 people in Vietnam.

He affirmed that the disease can be prevented if dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies. However, he warned the community against the high risk of a widespread outbreak of the disease due to a lack of awareness among owners and lax management by authorities.

One of the major solutions to prevent rabies is to limit the breeding of dogs and cats, he said.