Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: With fears rising over the spread of rabies in the world’s largest refugee settlement, UK charity Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) has spearheaded an emergency response that has vaccinated over 1,700 dogs in just four days – a lifesaving intervention in one of the most densely populated and underserved humanitarian settings on earth.
The campaign was launched in response to a 128% increase in reported dog bite cases between 2021 and 2023, as recorded by the WHO Cox’s Bazar Health Sector Bulletins. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop, yet entirely preventable through timely canine vaccination – the single most effective way to stop transmission.
With over one million Rohingya refugees living in the 13km² Kutupalong camp, the public health stakes couldn’t be higher. In May 2025, WVS deployed a high-impact, community-based campaign through its Mission Rabies initiative, achieving over 70% vaccine coverage – the critical threshold needed to stop the disease in dogs and prevent human deaths.
Dr Luke Gamble, Founder and CEO of WVS said “This is what we’re about – anyone can do easy. This campaign proves that even in the toughest conditions, we can get in, pull together, and save lives. We can’t change the hardship families here face every day – but we can make sure rabies is one less thing they have to fear.”
The campaign, delivered in just three weeks from planning to completion, was a multi-agency operation involving:
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Bangladesh
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)
- Department of Livestock Services (DLS)
- Obhoyaronno – Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation
- Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU)
- Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC)
- WHO Bangladesh, CDC, UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for coordination and field support
Over 87 Bangladeshi veterinary students were trained and deployed, alongside over 150 campaign personnel, creating local capacity to carry forward zoonotic disease control. Teams used the Mission Rabies App to track real-time data, log vaccinations, and map campaign coverage across 26 zones.
Community outreach ran in tandem with the vaccinations, reaching over 12,000 residents and school children with life-saving rabies education in Rohingya language. Wristbands, posters, loudspeakers, and classroom sessions helped demystify the disease and promote safe behaviours, especially for children who are most at risk.
“This wasn’t just a vaccination drive – it was about education, trust, and protection,” said Dr Karlette Fernandes, one of the key Project Managers for the campaign. “Communities were informed, engaged, and incredibly supportive. It shows how much can be done when we act with urgency and compassion.”
The operation also included:
- Establishing surveillance mechanisms to report and track suspected rabies cases
- Structured SOPs, safety protocols, and on-site medical support for vaccination teams
- Secure vaccine cold-chain logistics across all camps
The campaign aligns with the WHO’s “Zero by 30” global strategy to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, and with the CDC’s recent classification of Cox’s Bazar as a rabies transmission zone requiring urgent intervention.
Further information on Mission Rabies and how to get involved can be found at missionrabies.com.
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