Research Article | 21 Dec 2025

Spatiotemporal analysis of animal rabies cases in Indonesia using World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) Data (2006–2023): Trends, hotspot provinces, species distribution, and One Health implications

Fajar Shodiq Permata1 ORCID, Sruti Listra Adrenalin2 ORCID, Ajeng Erika Prihastuti Haskito3 ORCID, and Citra Sari3 ORCIDShow more

1. Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia.

2. Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia.

3. Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia.

Corresponding author: Fajar Shodiq Permata (drh.fajar@ub.ac.id)

Received: 2025-07-27, Accepted: 2025-11-17, Published: 2025-12-21

VETERINARY WORLD | pg no. 310-326 | Vol. 11, Issue 2 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.310-326
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: Rabies remains a persistent zoonotic threat in Indonesia, where dogs are the primary reservoir driving animal-to-human transmission. Despite longstanding control efforts, the country continues to report fluctuating rabies incidence with increasing public health and economic burdens. This study aimed to analyze 17 years of animal rabies data from the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) to identify temporal patterns, hotspot provinces, species distribution, and vaccination coverage, and to highlight gaps relevant for strengthening One Health–based rabies control in Indonesia.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using WAHIS quantitative data from 2006–2023. Records were filtered by country (Indonesia), disease (rabies virus infection), province, and animal species. Data were cleaned, standardized, and categorized by year, province, species, and vaccination status. Visualization was performed using Python (bar charts and heatmaps) and ArcGIS (choropleth maps). Descriptive tables were generated in SPSS. Analyses were limited to 2023 due to Indonesia’s transition to aggregated national reporting from 2021 onward.
Results: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using WAHIS quantitative data from 2006–2023. Records were filtered by country (Indonesia), disease (rabies virus infection), province, and animal species. Data were cleaned, standardized, and categorized by year, province, species, and vaccination status. Visualization was performed using Python (bar charts and heatmaps) and ArcGIS (choropleth maps). Descriptive tables were generated in SPSS. Analyses were limited to 2023 due to Indonesia’s transition to aggregated national reporting from 2021 onward.
Conclusion: Rabies remains endemic in Indonesia with considerable interprovincial disparities and repeated surges linked to limited vaccination coverage and inconsistent surveillance. The dominance of dog-mediated transmission underscores the need for sustained mass dog vaccination, strengthened provincial reporting, and coordinated One Health strategies that integrate veterinary, human health, and environmental sectors. Improved transparency and routine submission of disaggregated rabies data to WAHIS are critical for achieving national and global rabies elimination goals.

         
Keywords: Rabies, Indonesia, WAHIS, dogs, vaccination, One Health, surveillance, spatiotemporal trends.