As I’m currently writing this, rabies is ripping its way through Southeast Asia. For the majority of us in America, our separation from this illness causes us to conjure up images of zombies or cartoon dogs foaming at the mouth. But for the poor, ignored and disadvantaged communities of Southeast Asia, it is a devastating everyday reality that is killing everyone, even children. This is the issue that Robin Hicks at Eco-Business is bringing light to. Rabies, a disease that is spread through the bites of infected animals that results in a 100 percent chance of dying (slowly and painfully as well) once it reaches the nervous system, has become an epidemic in eight Southeast Asian countries. Diverting attention to Covid-19 prevention, lifted travel bans, insufficient dog vaccination programs, the rising consumption of dog meat, and lack of knowledge surrounding the disease have all accumulated to make rabies spread like wildfire. However, the most frustrating reason it has spread is because it mainly affects poor communities, so the eradication of the disease is not “economically important” to the governments of affected countries, who’d rather tackle other diseases that hinder trade. 

Ignoring the poor who are becoming infected and dying from rabies reminds me of the repeated instances of governments focusing their attention on wanting to make a comfy area for the upper class and tourists, sweeping those who are lower class away like dirt. Instances like my last blog posts on Indonesia’s high speed railway being too expensive for middle class citizens, the rebuilding of Saigon that displaced the original citizens and raised rent, and even how the Marind are abused and removed from their land in order to plant oil palm, all follow this pattern. These governments only want to focus on what benefits them, what will gain them wealth; helping citizens who do not provide them wealth is not a part of their plan. I don’t want to imply that corruption is only a problem in Southeast Asia, it affects countries everywhere, even where I’m writing from. Any citizen who has a corrupt government is a victim, and the victims with rabies who are being ignored by their government have to suffer because of it. 

Though this situation is very bleak, and it feels like there’s no way to help, there are ways to support those afflicted by rabies. Spreading awareness of those affected is vital, since rabies is not frequently talked about; wide-spread knowledge can put pressure on these governments to take action. Advocating for policy change is also important, since a large issue is a lack of health organization and government intervention. You can support policies that advocate for vaccines, education, and healthcare access for poor citizens. Donate or volunteer with organizations, like World Organization for Animal Health or Global Alliance for Rabies Control, that are involved in rabies control, animal welfare, and public health initiatives. These organizations provide vaccinations, education, and healthcare to at-risk communities. 

With all these combined efforts, Southeast Asia may be able to eradicate rabies entirely, healing the disadvantaged affected.