Daijiworld Media Network - Thimphu
Thimphu, Sep 7: Bhutan has become the first country in Southeast Asia to be validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies, marking a major milestone in the country’s public health efforts.
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear. However, deaths from the disease are preventable through timely vaccination and treatment. Vaccinating dogs helps control rabies at its source, while prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent the virus from reaching the central nervous system following a bite.
PEP involves thorough washing of the wound, administration of a course of human rabies vaccines and, where necessary, an injection of rabies immunoglobulins (RIG). The WHO has emphasised that timely access to these measures can prevent rabies from developing even after exposure.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation’s goal is to end human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. He said Bhutan’s achievement demonstrated that human, animal and environmental health are closely interconnected.
“By uniting health workers, veterinarians, and communities, Bhutan has shown that the fight against rabies is won not in silos, but through solidarity across all sectors,” Tedros said.
Bhutan’s achievement is the result of more than a decade of sustained investment in a One Health approach, which recognises the close links between the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
The approach is based on the understanding that changes in the relationship between humans, animals and the environment can increase the risk of diseases emerging and spreading among both people and animals.
Bhutan’s success highlights the importance of sustained dog vaccination, disease surveillance, community participation and coordination between public health and veterinary services in eliminating dog-transmitted rabies. The WHO said the achievement demonstrates how coordinated action across different sectors can help countries move closer to the global goal of ending human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030.