Bhutan leads South-East Asia in eliminating rabies as public health problem
WHO validation recognises that a country has eliminated dog-transmitted human rabies, with no human deaths from the disease for at least two years, while demonstrating the capacity to prevent transmission from re-emerging
Bhutan has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first country in the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem. The WHO recently validated Bhutan's accomplishment, recognizing that the country has seen no rabies-related human deaths for at least two years and demonstrated the capability to prevent transmission from resurfacing.
The last recorded fatality occurred in June 2023. Rabies, a highly contagious viral disease, remains a significant issue in many parts of the world, causing an estimated 59,000 deaths annually, with India accounting for a third of these fatalities. Bhutan's success is attributed to its comprehensive approach, which combines mass dog vaccination, rigorous post-exposure prophylaxis, robust surveillance, and a strong commitment to the One Health approach.
This strategy, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, has been instrumental in Bhutan's achievement. The country's Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Livestock, and other partners have collaborated closely to sustain this accomplishment, ensuring ongoing access to PEP, mass dog vaccinations, population management, and community engagement.
Bhutan's dedication to maintaining its systems and fostering cross-border coordination with adjacent Indian states will further reinforce this success in rabies control.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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