Delivering Asia’s largest rabies drive: 229,488 dogs vaccinated in Cambodia

229,488 dogs have been successfully vaccinated against rabies during a two-week intensive campaign in Cambodia, working in close collaboration with General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) and Animal Rescue Cambodia.

From 21st October to 4th November, 287 vaccination teams worked across the Provinces of Phnom Penh, Kandal, and Battambang in a united effort to protect human and animal lives.

A deadly threat

According to World Health Organisation, over 99 percent of all human rabies cases are transmitted via dog bites. Children under 15 years of age are particularly vulnerable, accounting for forty percent of global deaths. Cambodia has one of the highest rabies death rates per capita of any country in the world. If post-exposure prophylaxis is not sought by a victim of a rabid dog bite and clinical symptoms manifest, the disease is almost invariably fatal.

Through our Mission Rabies global projects, we aim to vaccinate 70% of the canine population, the coverage needed to eliminate the disease in dogs and prevent human deaths.

Vaccination in action

During this intensive two-week project, the teams travelled through the designated vaccination areas, going door-to-door to administer as many vaccinations as possible. The WVS Data Collection App was used to assign areas to teams and to input information about each dog, providing valuable data insights to monitor the project’s progress.

Volunteers from 30 different countries formed a vital part of the vaccination teams on the ground, and this included the support of over 200 Cambodian veterinary students. The Management of the Faculty of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine, National Institute of Agriculture, shared the value the campaign has for their students in the wider community:

‘As a partner with WVS on the mass dog vaccination campaign, the students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the National Institute of Agriculture (NIA) have gained knowledge and skills in organising vaccination campaigns and administering vaccinations for dogs in the city and communities. In addition, the mass dog vaccination campaign will significantly contribute to reducing rabies risk in Phnom Penh and other targeted provinces. We hope this campaign continues its activities in Cambodia.’

The 2024 drive followed on from our 2023 campaign where 74,983 dogs were vaccinated in Phnom Penh and Kandal Provinces, the first rabies vaccination project of this scale delivered in the country.

Rabies response

We began work in Cambodia in 2019, running a pilot vaccination campaign and commencing an education programme in the capital city. Ever since, our 24-hour surveillance team has responded to reports of rabid dogs and ensured anyone bitten receives immediate post-exposure treatment. Our rabies hotline allows members of the public to report rabid dog sightings and to seek support for any rabies emergencies.

Sterilisation and treatment

An additional element of this year’s campaign was a free dog spaying and neutering service available at the Royal University of Agriculture, where our team sterilised 212 animals over two weeks. The WVS mobile veterinary team also provided treatment for 655 sick and injured animals, responding to reports from the vaccination teams in the field.

Education and awareness

In conjunction with the vaccination drive, an education programme was conducted to raise awareness on the importance of getting dogs vaccinated, the dangers of rabies, and how to prevent the disease. This incorporated visits to schools, places of work, and key community locations.

‘The lack of awareness about this deadly disease means that many bitten individuals do not receive the post-exposure treatment they need, leaving them with no chance for survival once symptoms manifest. Tragically, children are particularly vulnerable to rabies as they are less likely to recognise the signs of rabies in dogs and are more likely to interact with or care for these animals.’ - Dr Amy Nicole Lewis, International Project Manager, Worldwide Veterinary Service

To date, we have educated more than eight million children on rabies prevention worldwide, as well as over 200,000 community members. These lessons are vital in creating communities who know how to protect themselves from rabies and who act to support rabies control.

Collaboration is key

We are immensely grateful to all our brilliant project partners, including General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP), Animal Rescue Cambodia, Preak Leap National Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), and many more. A special thank you to all our volunteers, teams on the ground, and everyone who supports the mission to build a rabies free tomorrow.

‘This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our incredible team and a tribute to the veterinary profession, with vets and nurses from around the world pouring their energy into making a profound impact. It’s no exaggeration to say this campaign will prevent around 500 children from dying of rabies over the next few years. Vaccinating 229,488 dogs in Cambodia in just two weeks is a new milestone we’re immensely proud of. It proves that with the right strategy, energy, and support, eliminating rabies is within reach. It’s a privilege to be part of this journey, and we are deeply grateful to our partners and everyone backing our mission to end human rabies deaths worldwide.’ - Dr Luke Gamble, CEO and Founder, Worldwide Veterinary Service.

Join the mission

Ensure that we can protect even more children and communities by getting involved today. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed on our work, volunteer on one of our vaccinations drives to ensure that communities can live without the fear of rabies, or donate to help us fight rabies. We will be recruiting volunteers for the next Cambodia vaccination drive in 2025; if you would like to register your interest, please complete this online form to be the first to hear once applications open.