Vaccines, volunteers, and a vision: Join us to make Laos rabies free by 2028
The situation
In Laos, over 8,000 dog bite incidents are reported annually yet many victims do not receive timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Once a person has contracted rabies and symptoms begin to show, there is nothing that can be done to save them. That’s why effective rabies control programmes are so crucial in saving lives. We’re working with project partners in Laos to protect people and animals from this deadly virus. Rabies is 100% preventable and mass vaccination of dogs is the most effective way to control it.
The first step to a safer future
In September 2025, over 21,500 dogs were vaccinated against rabies during a one-week intensive campaign in Vientiane Province: the country’s first programme of this scale.
From 20-26th September, 93 vaccination teams, comprising of 186 veterinary workers, vaccinated across the province in a united effort to protect both human and animal lives. The campaign marked the first provincial-wide vaccination drive in Laos, with its success demonstrating the scalability of a large-scale, short-duration mass dog vaccination campaign. By training village veterinary workers, the project built local capacity - and by engaging village veterinary workers, it helped to ensure the project was sustainable and cost-efficient. This campaign was a crucial first step towards making Laos a rabies free country, where no person or animal will suffer because of this cruel disease.
Project partners:
Department of Livestock and Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment)
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Laos (NUoL)
What's next in Laos
Building on the successes of the 2025 campaign, we continue to work in collaboration with our project partners to maximise our impact and expand into new target areas. This year, we will expand the programme across three provinces of Laos, with plans to roll out the campaign countrywide by 2027.
Volunteer in Laos
We are recruiting volunteers for the upcoming campaign in November 2026. Join us in providing life-saving protection to communities and creating a rabies-free Laos! Discover more and apply.
