| Project Title | Tackling Rabies Outbreak: Supporting the West Timor response |
| Donor | Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
| Chief investigator | A/Prof Angus Campbell |
| Co-investigators | Dr Max Barot, Dr Justin McKinley |
| Collaborating Organisations | Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne |
The problem
Rabies remains a major public health issue in Indonesia, with significant impacts on human health, the economy, and society.
The research
We engaged with key partners from the animal health, disaster management, quarantine, and human health authorities in four districts of West Timor, to gather critical information for economic and epidemiological modelling to support decision-making and advocacy for the rabies responses.
The impact
Analysis revealed that for the cost of one human rabies post-exposure treatment, 24 dogs could be vaccinated. A control program centered on mass dog vaccination can be expected to stop further human deaths once 70% of the dog population is fully vaccinated. This amounts to savings of IDR 64 billion (approximate)
SDG Goals
Advancing Melbourne 2030 Research framework
Practice Area
One Health
Countries
West Timor