Despite efforts, Southeast Asia remains a rabies hotspot, with millions of people at potential risk of rabies exposure. These factors have made the region a major vector for the disease, escalating in areas where rabies has not previously been reported, including Malaysia.
Some of the factors contributing to the uptake of rabies infections include: A large population of free-roaming, unvaccinated dogs; Low vaccination rates among pets and strays; Limited resources and access to animal vaccines; Cross-border rabies transmission...
The whitepaper highlights country-specific challenges and expert solutions to operationalize the One Health approach in preventing and eliminating rabies in Southeast Asia with a specific focus on Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. The whitepaper explores strategies to achieve the Zero by 30 global strategic goal to end dog-mediated human rabies death by 2030.
The whitepaper, along with the gathering of like-minded stakeholders at the FAVA Congress, supports Boehringer Ingelheim’s ongoing STOP Rabies program efforts. The complexities of rabies control explored in a panel session during the congress, also affirms the need for collaboration across sectors and borders to help the region advance forward.
According to many experts at the event, rabies is completely preventable with holistic programs that focus on dog vaccination, education, and surveillance. By understanding the rabies landscape in the region, we continue to pursue a collaborative approach, involving governments, non-governmental organizations, veterinarians, pet owners, and the wider community, to drive progress towards a rabies-free Southeast Asia and improve health outcomes for both humans and animals.
Building on over 30 years of experience working in rabies prevention and management, Boehringer Ingelheim’s STOP Rabies program reinforces the company’s mission to improve the health of both animals and humans. By contributing its expertise and heritage to the rabies elimination efforts that are already taking place in Southeast Asia and around the world – Boehringer continues to advocate for sustained, collaborative efforts to make meaningful advances towards eliminating rabies.
