Rabies in Myanmar: Prevalent, preventable but not prioritized

Abstract

Despite the availability of provenmeasures to prevent the disease, rabies now kills more people in Myanmar than malaria. Although there are challenges in controlling rabies in such a large and culturally diverse country,Myanmar's successful National Malaria Control Program demonstrates what can be achieved with sufficient political, financial, and scientific commitment. Presently,however,Myanmarlacks a comparableprogramto coordinate themultifacetedapproach that is necessary to control rabies. The national government has invested heavily in improving access to postexposure prophylaxis, but there should also be an emphasis on other,more cost-effective strategies, particularly mass canine vaccination, which has been an essential component of successful rabies elimination programs in other countries. Continued health system strengthening is also required to improve primary health care, while decentralization of laboratory diagnostic services is needed to facilitate more timely, rational, and cost-effective use of postexposure prophylaxis.