Home / Health / Bhutan First in Region to Erase Dog-Transmitted Rabies
Bhutan First in Region to Erase Dog-Transmitted Rabies
6 Sep
Summary
- Bhutan is first in WHO South East Asia to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies.
- The country's last rabies death was recorded in June 2023.
- WHO validation requires two years without human rabies deaths.
Bhutan has officially been recognized by the World Health Organization for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem. This significant validation makes Bhutan the first nation within the WHO's South East Asia Region to achieve this status. The country recorded its last rabies-related death in June 2023.
The WHO's validation confirms that Bhutan has experienced no human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies for at least two years and has established robust systems to prevent its re-emergence. This success is attributed to Bhutan's adoption of the "One Health" approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Key interventions included mass dog vaccination, effective dog population management, and extensive community awareness campaigns. Health workers, veterinarians, and community volunteers played a crucial role in these efforts. Bhutan plans to sustain these control measures and strengthen cross-border collaboration with neighboring Indian states to maintain its rabies-free status.
