Culling dogs does not stop rabies
sembang sembang
Culling dogs does not stop rabies
The indiscriminate removal of dogs is ineffective and in breach of WHO recommendations
By David Neale
In a letter to the Chief Minister of Penang Mr. Lim Guan Eng, 15 international organisations with a shared focus on improving the welfare of animals across Asia, expressed deep concern over reports of the mass and indiscriminate culling of dogs in Penang.
The NGOs acknowledge that concerns for human health demand urgent action to manage the outbreak of canine rabies but emphasise that dog culling is not the answer.
Culling does not stop the spread of rabies. Neither is it effective in managing the dog population. Additionally, it is in violation of recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Instead the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) advocates a vaccination program in conjunction with human public health preventive measures and humane dog population management (dog sterilisation)1.
The NGOs note that a canine vaccination program that covers at least 70% of the dog population reduces transmission enough to control outbreaks of the disease in the dog population2 and prevent the transmission of the virus from dogs to humans3. When vaccination coverage increases to at least 80%, it has been seen that the occurrence of human rabies cases ceases promptly4.
Furthermore there is a cost benefit ─ it costs less to vaccinate a dog than it does to treat a human who has been exposed to the disease. According to the OIE “with only 10% of the financial resources used worldwide to treat people after a dog bite, veterinary services would be able to eradicate rabies in animals and thus stop almost all human cases”.
The coalition of NGOs stressed that they stand ready to bring their extensive experience and expertise in the successful delivery of humane dog population management and rabies elimination, to help the City of Penang and government of Malaysia tackle issues related to dog population management and rabies control and elimination.
The letter to the Chief Minister was signed by following NGOs:
- Animal Guardians
- Animal People
- Animals Asia Foundation
- ACRES
- Blue Cross of India
- Change for Animals Foundation
- Earth Island Institute
- Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations
- Humane Society International
- International Animal Rescue
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Philippine Animal Welfare Society
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UK)
- Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hong Kong
- Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- World Animal Protection
David Neale is Animal Welfare Director, Animals Asia Foundation
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