WOAH side event on Cross-Border Collaboration at Rabies in Borneo Conference 2025

Background

Borneo Island is shared by Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), and Brunei Darussalam. While each country has made significant progress in rabies control, the risk of cross-border reintroduction remains due to porous land and maritime borders, informal animal movement, and uneven vaccination coverage across subnational areas.

Past experience has shown that outbreaks in border regions, such as those in West Kalimantan or Sabah, can have regional implications if not addressed quickly and in coordination. However, mechanisms for sustained cross-border cooperation remain limited and largely ad hoc.

This side event, convened by WOAH in the margins of the Rabies in Borneo Conference 2025, aims to provide a platform for practical, semi-formal, and ongoing collaboration among local authorities, national representatives, and partners working on rabies control across Borneo.

Objectives

• Facilitate dialogue among subnational and national authorities in Borneo on rabies risks and control strategies in border areas.
• Identify shared priorities for cross-border action (e.g. surveillance, vaccination timing, communication).
• Encourage semi-formal collaboration mechanisms between district/provincial veterinary and public health authorities.
• Agree on next steps to maintain regular coordination and information exchange.

Tentative Agenda