FAO, WHO and WOAH are committed to ending rabies transmission from animals to people. Rabies kills nearly 59,000 people annually, 40% of which were children under 15 years of age in Asia and Africa. The disease is a major global concern, with cases reported in more than 150 countries and territories, with direct (i.e. treatment) and indirect (i.e. loss of income) costs in the billions of dollars worldwide, even though rabies is a 100% vaccine-preventable disease.

During the World Rabies Day 2024 event, Dr Lathsavong Latsamy, Vice Head of the Provincial Health Division, emphasised “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”, the theme for this year, needs to be strongly enforced to pave the way for a world free from this preventable disease. He said that we need to break our current thinking and be ready to take up challenges to adopt novel tools and technologies to enhance rabies prevention and control efforts, in addition to strengthened surveillance and reporting. 

Dr Souphavanh Keovilay, Deputy Director General of Department of Livestock and Fisheries, encouraged all stakeholders to jointly break the boundaries of limited public knowledge and disease perceptions, highlighting that rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to humans and animals through bites and scratches as well as from exposure to the saliva of rabid animals, with dogs as the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies cases in people. He stressed that once we correct misconception, change perceptions and foster a broader understanding of rabies, we can fully ensure community engagement and drive change.

To end and put rabies cases down to “Zero by 2030”, the agencies strategically plan for societal change through three prioritized goals. These include: 1) to efficiently prevent rabies and respond through effective use of vaccines and innovative multisectoral approach; 2) to generate a necessary tools, policies, and guidance to measure impact of rabies based on reliable data for effective and timely decision-making; 3) to sustain commitment and resources to drive progress. 

During the event, Mr Matthew Shortus, Team Leader for Integrated Communicable Diseases Unit, WHO Lao PDR, noted that rabies elimination can become a reality when a One Health approach is integrated into the centre of all initiatives. Importantly, to ensure the success of rabies elimination, a multisectoral workforce must be strengthened and equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills for elimination to be achieved, alongside strong multisectoral collaboration. 

Mr Chanthalath Pongmala, Assistant FAOR (PROGRAMME), appreciated the presence of all stakeholders, including the individuals who are pet lovers, to support this year awareness raising event. He noted that the infection from the dog bites can be averted and that no one should die from this 100% vaccine-preventable viral diseases if all sectors, leaders, and community people should prioritize rabies and allocate funds for rabies prevention. He emphasized that only together can we eliminate rabies!

FAO and WHO, as UN institutions, together with other partners, over the last years, have been assisting member countries, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in the design and implementation of rabies vaccination and control programmes; in developing and distributing educational materials, promoting World Rabies Day and fostering operational research. To mark this year event, FAO provided the Department of Livestock and Fisheries with 4,000 doses of rabies vaccines and vaccination equipment. These rabies vaccines were provided free of charge for vaccinating dogs and cats at the World Rabies Day event held in Sayaboury Province.

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FAO Lao PDR Media Contact Person/s:

Bounmee Maokhamphiou, FAO Lao PDR Outreach Specialist,
[email protected] 

Vilaylack Khounvisith, FAO Lao PDR National Communications Consultant,
[email protected] 

WHO Media Contact Person/s:

Mr Will Seal                                                                      
Team Lead Communications/Coordination
WHO Lao PDR                                                                        
Email: [email protected] 
WhatsApp: +64 21 933 670 (English)

Related links:

● Global Health Security Agenda
● FAO One Health