Rabies-free future: Boehringer Ingelheim unveils white paper to achieve ‘Zero by 30’

 

Boehringer Ingelheim’s rabies symposium at the Fava Congress 2023 proved to be an important forum for experts to collaborate on achieving a rabies-free future in Southeast Asia.

KUCHING: Despite persistent efforts, Southeast Asia remains a hotspot for rabies, endangering millions.

In an effort to combat this pressing issue, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim unveiled a white paper titled “Moving towards a rabies-free Southeast Asia” at the Federation of Asian Veterinary Association (Fava) Congress 2023 in Kuching.

A collaborative effort with media organisation Eco-Business, the white paper explores strategic approaches to rabies elimination and realising the collective efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation For Animal Health (WOAH), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).

Dr Tan Do Yew, Boehringer Ingelheim’s regional technical manager for companion animals for Asean, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, said the white paper also highlights country-specific challenges and expert solutions to prevent rabies, specifically in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

A deadly disease

A crucial finding in the white paper is the endemic nature of rabies in eight out of 10 Asean countries, placing over 600 million people at risk of contracting the deadly infection.

The white paper also revealed that the prevalence of rabies in the region can be attributed to several factors, including a substantial population of free-roaming dogs, insufficient vaccination rates among pets and strays, the trade of dog and cat meat, redirected resources for Covid-19 pandemic control, and cross-border disease transmission.

“In Malaysia, rabies cases are particularly prevalent in Sarawak, and are likely to surface in other areas. Rabies elimination requires strong collaboration within the local community,” said Tan.

The Sarawak health department reported 15 rabies cases this year, with 13 resulting in fatalities as of August. Since 2017, cumulative human rabies cases in the region have reached 70, with 63 recorded deaths.

Tan said Boehringer Ingelheim’s STOP Rabies programme emphasises the importance of vaccination and education, as well as monitoring dog bites and rabies cases to effectively prevent and control rabies.

Key strategies and initiatives

Tan also highlighted the importance of understanding the rabies landscape in the region, calling it essential to making significant progress towards achieving a rabies-free Southeast Asia.

“By doing so, we will be able to improve the health outcomes for both humans and animals.

“Promoting mass vaccination campaigns and engaging communities and children are also crucial steps in enhancing public awareness,” he said.

Dr Kam Kok Yen, the head of animal health of Boehringer Ingelheim in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, said Boehringer Ingelheim in Malaysia has collaborated with local government, health authorities and NGOs to drive the STOP Rabies programme.

“This year alone, we’ve administered vaccinations to 450 dogs and cats in the Kuching division, partnering with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” said Kam.

“Additionally, we’ve conducted educational sessions for 350 students across various schools in Serian, Sarawak, focusing on rabies awareness and dog bite prevention.

“Given that dog bites are the primary source of human rabies cases, the most effective method of protecting human health is through targeted mass dog vaccination.”

Kam added that Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to leveraging its expertise and heritage to support the collective efforts of WHO, WOAH, FAO and GARC in achieving the “Zero by 30” goal, which aims to completely eradicate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.

The STOP Rabies programme focuses on three key pillars, namely vaccination, education and surveillance.

These pillars focus on delivering high-quality vaccines, promoting best practices in dog vaccination campaigns, raising community awareness about rabies, and monitoring rabies-related data through the GARC.

Hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim, the rabies symposium at the Fava Congress 2023 served as a dynamic platform for industry experts to engage in discussions, share initiatives, and offer key recommendations aimed at paving the way for a rabies-free future in Southeast Asia.

Panellists in the discussion included Boehringer Ingelheim’s representatives Tan and Dr Jerlyn K Sponseller, GARC director of programmes Terence Scott, and Dr Farina Mustaffa Kamal, the head of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s veterinary pathology and microbiology department. - FMT