A De-suung (Guardians of Peace) volunteer vaccinates a dog as Bhutan unites to achieve elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies. Photo Credit: National Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme, Bhutan.
Health BhutanDog-Transmitted Human Rabies Eliminated
Bhutan has eliminated dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health problem, becoming the first country in its region to achieve the milestone.
“Bhutan’s success shows that the health of humans, animals and the environment we share is inextricably linked,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “By uniting health workers, veterinarians, and communities, Bhutan has shown that the fight against rabies is won not in silos, but through solidarity across all sectors.”
Bhutan has recorded zero human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies since June 2023 after more than a decade of coordinated action combining mass dog vaccination, surveillance, accessible treatment and community involvement. Free post-exposure treatment will continue across all 20 districts, alongside dog vaccination, population management and stronger cross-border cooperation, supporting the global goal of ending human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030.
