The rapidly emerging public health threat of rabies in Timor-Leste, 2024–2025

Authors

  • Filipe de Neri Machado Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong Ministry of Health; Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Government of Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Florindo P Gonzaga Directorate for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Lahane, Timor-Leste
  • Felisiano da Conceição National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Dili, Timor-Leste
  • Anthony DK Draper Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Bidau Lecidere, Timor-Leste; National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Government Department of Health, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
  • Mateus Pinheiro Hospital Nasional Guido Valadares, Bidau, Timor-Leste
  • Frederico Bosco Alves dos Santos Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Noel Gama Soares Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Mariano da Silva Marques Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Marcelo Amaral Mali Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Aloto Ximenes Belo Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Benigna Veneranda da Costa Amaral Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Nazario Barreto dos Santos Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Adriano Barbosa Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Livia Natalia Babo Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste
  • Joshua R Francis Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Bidau Lecidere, Timor-Leste
  • Merita Antonia A Monteiro Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Bidau Lecidere, Timor-Leste
  • Nevio Sarmento Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública de Timor-Leste, Comoro, Timor-Leste; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Bidau Lecidere, Timor-Leste

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.3.1332

Keywords:

rabies, Timor-Leste, dog bite, post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies immunoglobulin

Abstract

Timor-Leste was rabies-free until March 2024. Since then, detections in dogs and human cases have occurred in a growing number of municipalities. Access to vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin needs to be increased by strengthening vaccine supply, integrating into routine immunization programmes and increasing awareness of the risk of rabies.

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Published

22-09-2025

How to Cite

1.
Machado F de N, Jong JB da C, Gonzaga FP, da Conceição F, Draper AD, Pinheiro M, Bosco Alves dos Santos F, Soares NG, da Silva Marques M, Mali MA, Ximenes Belo A, da Costa Amaral BV, Barreto dos Santos N, Barbosa A, Babo LN, Francis JR, Monteiro MAA, Sarmento N. The rapidly emerging public health threat of rabies in Timor-Leste, 2024–2025. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 22 [cited 2025 Sep. 23];16(3). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/1332

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2025): July – September

Section

Perspective