KUCHING: The highly anticipated 4th edition of the Rabies in Borneo (RIB) Conference will be held from 30 September to 1 October 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) and will be officiated by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.

According to a statement, RIB 2025 will bring together 21 distinguished expert speakers from 12 countries, united in their commitment to advancing rabies research, control, and eradication efforts across the region.

“With the theme ‘Rabies Free Borneo: Uniting People, Animals and Communities’, the conference will feature insightful plenary and panel sessions that highlight not only the ongoing fight against rabies in Sarawak but also the importance of regional collaboration and the latest innovations in rabies prevention and control.

“Serving as a vital forum, RIB 2025 will enable stakeholders from across the globe to exchange knowledge, build strategic partnerships and strengthen collective efforts toward a common goal of saving lives and improving the health of both humans and animals,” it said on Thursday.

In the same statement, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari emphasised that the RIB Conference exemplifies Sarawak’s commitment to protecting communities, domesticated animals and wildlife.

“I urge all stakeholders, community leaders and the public to actively participate and support our collective efforts. Together we can eliminate rabies as a public health threat and ensure a safer future for all in Sarawak and beyond,” he said.

RIB not only reinforces Sarawak’s leadership in disease control but also underscores the importance of regional cooperation in combating rabies.

It aims to empower local communities, raise awareness and implement effective vaccination and surveillance programmes that will amplify collective efforts across Borneo and beyond. -UKASnews