Rabies in Myanmar: Prevalent, Preventable but not Prioritized

Thet Thet Mu Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar;

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Aye Aye Sein Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar;

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Chit Soe University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar;

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Nan Phyu Phyu Aung University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Myanmar;

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Tint Tint Kyi Department of Medical Care, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar;

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Josh Hanson University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Myanmar;
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0198
Volume/Issue:
Volume 97: Issue 4
Page(s):
989–991
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Despite the availability of proven measures 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, Myanmar lacks a comparable program to coordinate the multifaceted approach 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.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Josh Hanson, The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, High Street, Kensington, New South Wales 2052 Australia. E-mail: jhanson@kirby.unsw.edu.au

Authors’ addresses: Thet Thet Mu and Aye Aye Sein, Health Management Information System, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, E-mails: dr.thetthetmu.dhp@gmail.com and ayeayesein63@gmail.com. Chit Soe, University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar, E-mail: prof.chit@gmail.com. Nan Phyu Phyu Aung, University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Myanmar, E-mail: profnanphyuphyuaung@gmail.com. Tint Tint Kyi, Department of Medical Care, Ministry of Health and Sport, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, E-mail: tinttint.kyi@gmail.com. Josh Hanson, The Kirby Institute, The Director's Unit, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and Cairns Hospital, Queensland, Australia, E-mail: jhanson@kirby.unsw.edu.au.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2017
Received:
13 Mar 2017
|
Accepted:
01 May 2017
|
Published Online:
12 Jun 2017
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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