Rabies risk from dog meat

There is a risk that preparing dog meat to be eaten could result in the spread of rabies, a report has noted.

Research from the South East Asian Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network has revealed that two patients in Vietnam are showing signs of rabies infection despite not being bitten by a rabid animal.

Published in PLoS Medicine and headed by Dr Heiman Wertheim from the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the study found that the likely cause was preparing and eating dogs and cats.

Dr Wertheim said: "We need to alert both the general public and clinicians about the risks around butchering and handling meat.

"People should not handle animals that may be infected with rabies. Rabies can be prevented with a vaccine and people exposed to rabies can be helped with post-exposure prophylaxis, but this needs to be administered as quickly as possible following the exposure."

Many countries in Asia commonly eat dog meat as part of their diets.

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