JAPOHR project makes lasting impact on rabies control in the Philippines through Japan-developed rapid test kits

Demonstration of the rabies diagnostic method using Lateral Flow Device (LFD)

This Rabies Awareness Month, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recalls one of its projects that boosted the Philippines’ capability in its fight against rabies.

JICA and the Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and local government units (LGUs), implemented the Japan and Philippines One Health Rabies (JAPOHR) project, an initiative that introduced new breakthroughs in the country’s rabies control efforts. From 2018 to 2023, the project developed innovative diagnostic methods, strengthened surveillance, and enhanced outbreak response, significantly improving the country’s capacity to combat the disease.

Despite being 100% preventable, rabies remains a persistent public health concern in the Philippines. Traditional approaches to controlling the disease have relied heavily on human vaccination, but without targeted interventions for animal rabies, transmission cycles remained unbroken. JAPOHR addressed these gaps by introducing a One Health approach that enhanced disease monitoring, improved diagnostic accuracy, and streamlined response efforts at the local level.

One of the project's most significant achievements was the introduction of rapid test kits developed by Oita University in Japan. These kits enabled local governments to diagnose rabies in animals quickly, reducing the waiting time for results from hours to mere minutes. Rabies testing requires highly specialized laboratories, making it difficult for local veterinarians to confirm cases promptly. Instead of relying on distant laboratories, LGUs can now test samples locally, accelerate containment efforts, and improve overall surveillance.

Beyond testing, JAPOHR improved how rabies cases are tracked and reported. The project established the Rabies Data Share System (RaDSS), an internet-based platform that enabled local and national authorities to visualize outbreaks, monitor disease trends, and coordinate containment strategies in real time. By the end of the project, RaDSS had been introduced to 69 LGUs and 18 rabies remote laboratories across 11 regions in the Philippines. Through this data-driven system, over 200 rabies cases were detected and immediately shared with health officials, allowing for rapid containment measures such as mass vaccination campaigns and public advisories.

Ceremonial vaccination and blood collection with samples brought to the RITM for testing

JAPOHR’s success was built on close collaboration among key institutions. The project brought together national and local government offices to create a unified approach to rabies control that bridged the gaps between veterinary and human health sectors. It offered extensive training programs that equipped over 198 personnel – including LGU staff and regional laboratory specialists – with essential skills in detection, management, and digital reporting.

In pilot areas like Bulacan, where animal rabies surveillance had been limited, the number of detected cases increased fourfold after the implementation of rapid diagnostics and real-time data sharing. This sharp rise in detection not only revealed the true scale of the problem, but also allowed authorities to target vaccination efforts more effectively.

Recognizing the effectiveness of JAPOHR’s methods, all 19 Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs) across the country have been introduced to the use of rapid test kits to support local diagnostics, with select laboratories provided with said kits. The continued rapid testing, coupled with the expansion of RaDSS, is expected to accelerate progress toward the Philippines’ goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.

Building on the success of JAPOHR, a new cooperation initiative is being planned to further strengthen rabies control efforts across the country. The upcoming Project for Implementation of Rapid Rabies Diagnosis and Rapid Responses to the Entire Philippines will focus on expanding the One Health rapid response model towards a nationwide approach.

By combining science, technology, and collaboration, JAPOHR has reshaped rabies control in the Philippines. It is setting new standards for disease management, proving that with the right tools and coordinated action, the country can move closer to a rabies-free future.

5th and final Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of JAPOHR