Bhutan is the first country in Southeast Asia to be validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies.Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear. However, rabies deaths are preventable. Vaccinating dogs curbs the disease at its source; and prompt use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) stops the virus from reaching the central nervous system after a bite, the WHO pointed out. PEP entails thorough wound washing, administration of a course of human rabies vaccine and, when indicated, rabies immunoglobulins (RIG) injection.The WHO’s goal is to end human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, adding that Bhutan’s success showed that the health of humans, animals and the environment was “inextricably” linked. “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,” he said.Bhutan’s achievement comes from more than a decade of sustained investment in a One Health approach, which recognises that the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems is closely interlinked. Changes in these relationships can increase the risk of diseases emerging and spreading among both humans and animals.Published on September 7, 2026