Lessons for rabies control and elimination programmes: a decade of One Health experience from Bali, Indonesia

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Disease Control

Background:

• Rabies emerged in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, prompting significant disease control efforts.
• Achieving rabies freedom in Bali necessitates a long-term, committed, multi-faceted strategy.
• The island's large, free-roaming dog population presents unique logistical challenges for rabies elimination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report lessons learned from Bali's rabies control and prevention activities.
• To assess the applicability of these lessons to other canine rabies-endemic regions.
• To provide insights for rabies-free areas at risk of incursions.

Main Methods:

• Implementing coordinated, high-coverage annual dog vaccination campaigns.
• Enhancing surveillance systems, particularly investigations of biting animals.
• Utilizing well-trained teams for rapid dog capture and vaccination, supplemented by post-vaccination surveys.

Main Results:

• Bali's large dog population poses significant logistical hurdles for vaccination.
• Rapid capture and vaccination teams are effective where central-point vaccination is insufficient.
• Post-vaccination surveys are crucial for evaluating coverage and targeting supplementary efforts.

Conclusions:

• Eliminating rabies requires a sustained One Health approach, integrating long-term planning and multisectoral coordination.
• Effective communication is vital for intersectoral collaboration and community engagement, especially in the final stages.
• Lessons from Bali offer valuable strategies for managing canine rabies in dense dog populations worldwide.