Bhutan becomes first country in Southeast Asia to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies: WHO

Bhutan has become the first country in Southeast Asia to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week.

Rabies is a viral disease that is usually fatal once symptoms appear. However, deaths can be prevented by vaccinating dogs and administering a human rabies vaccine immediately after a bite.

According to the WHO, Bhutan’s achievement follows more than a decade of investment in preventative measures.”Health workers, veterinary professionals and volunteers … helped take dog vaccination, population management and community awareness to every part of the country,” said the WHO’s Dr Nilesh Buddha.”Bhutan’s achievement offers an important example for other countries in the region,” he added.