The Australian Government will provide $550,000 in funding to support a mass dog vaccination program in Bali to protect locals and their dogs from rabies and reducing the threat of rabies in our region.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said Australia is committed to improving rabies control in south-east Asia through the mass vaccination of the dog population, and local rabies surveillance and community education campaigns.
“Rabies is an almost invariably fatal zoonotic disease, and combating the disease is a global health priority,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Australia is proud to be partnering with Indonesian authorities and the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) ‘Zero by 30’ global campaign.
“The aim is to achieve zero human deaths due to rabies carried by dogs by 2030.
“Dog vaccination is the most cost-effective and sustainable way to control and eradicate rabies. Our support of rabies prevention in south-east Asia benefits local communities and decreases the rabies disease risk to Australia.
“The disease still poses a significant risk due to our expansive northern coastline, and the presence of the disease in neighbouring countries.
“This program is investing $550,000 to deliver 600,000 doses of the rabies vaccine each year for 3 years.
“It will also support vaccination campaign communications, help rabies free provinces and islands keep their status and update rabies strategy.
“The program will seek to decrease the prevalence of rabies in our region and will provide more intelligence through regional collaboration and disease surveillance.”
