Institut Pasteur du Cambodge: Launch of two major studies to strengthen the fight against rabies and infectious diseases

The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) recently marked a decisive step forward in the fight against infectious diseases with the official launch of two major studies: VIRAGE and RACSMEI.

The event, held at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, brought together more than 150 key stakeholders from various Cambodian ministries—including health, agriculture, environment, and education—as well as international partners and development agencies, illustrating an unprecedented cross-sectoral mobilization for public health in Cambodia.

VIRAGE: Integrated vigilance to strengthen rabies prevention

Supported by the French Embassy and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the VIRAGE study (Integrated Vigilance to Understand and Strengthen Rabies Prevention in Cambodia) aims to fill critical gaps in the fight against rabies. This research focuses on thoroughly assessing the general public's knowledge and perception of the risks associated with this deadly disease, as well as the barriers to accessing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). By providing accurate and actionable data, VIRAGE aims to guide the development of more effective and tailored strategies to prevent rabies, a disease that is still too prevalent in certain regions of the country.

RACSMEI: A “One Health” approach to integrated infectious disease surveillance

At the same time, the RACSMEI study (Assessment of the risk of community spread of multiple endemic infectious diseases from a One Health perspective), funded by the Wellcome Trust and the French Development Agency (AFD) through the ECOMORE regional program, is launching a unique national serological survey. This study covers a wide range of diseases: vector-borne diseases, zoonoses, vaccine-preventable diseases, and neglected tropical diseases. By adopting an integrated “One Health” approach, RACSMEI cross-references human, animal, and environmental data to optimize epidemiological surveillance and guide more targeted and effective health interventions in Cambodia.

Collective mobilization for sustainable health

The launch of these studies was marked by speeches by Professor André Spiegel, Director of the IPC, Mr. Jacques Pellet, French Ambassador to Cambodia, and Dr. Youk Sambath, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health and Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on One Health (IMCC-OH). The ceremony highlighted the importance of intersectoral and international cooperation in addressing current and future health challenges. The technical presentations that followed provided details on the projects' methodologies and scientific objectives, thereby strengthening the visibility and commitment surrounding these initiatives.

A scientific commitment to vulnerable populations

The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, founded in 1953 and recognized as a public utility, plays a central role in biomedical research and public health in Cambodia. Its specialized units in epidemiology and public health conduct operational studies to better understand the transmission of infectious and emerging diseases and improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of priority diseases among the most vulnerable populations. These studies are part of an international collaboration supported by major donors such as the Wellcome Trust, the Pasteur Network, and French and international cooperation funds.

The launch of the VIRAGE and RACSMEI studies represents a major strategic and scientific advance for Cambodia, illustrating a strong commitment to integrating human, animal and environmental dimensions into the fight against infectious diseases. This approach is in line with the global public health agenda, where prevention and surveillance are key to protecting populations from current and emerging health threats in a sustainable manner.