Indonesia and Australia Cooperate to Contain Rabies Outbreaks

Australia has provided an additional 200 thousand vaccine doses to help contain rabies outbreaks in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara.

IDXChannel - Australia has provided an additional 200 thousand vaccine doses to help contain rabies outbreaks in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara.

Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, commended Indonesia’s leadership mobilising human and animal health services to contain rabies outbreaks.

“Responsive local health services that work closely with local communities are key to coordinating outbreak response. These vaccines will support Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to keep people safe from rabies,” she said in a media release on Monday (30/9/2024).

Of these additional vaccines, 130 thousand doses have been made available to vaccinate dogs in East Nusa Tenggara. This contribution adds to 200 thousand doses previously provided to East Nusa Tenggara Province, and 400 thusand doses provided to Bali Province.

Australia works closely with Indonesia to overcome rabies, including by supporting mass dog vaccinations, training vaccinators, laboratory staff and community health workers, and public messaging to educate the community.

The theme for World Rabies Day 2024 is “Breaking Rabies Boundaries” which highlights the importance of a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health efforts, and improving collaboration between countries and across various sectors. 

Australia is committed to the global goal to end human deaths from rabies spread by dogs by 2030. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)